Why a sore neck and what to do

If the neck tingle, poscholkivaet, rakes, its cramped, can exhale: with a probability of 99% is nothing terrible happens to you. Only 1% of neck pain caused byWhen to Worry About Neck Pain... and when not to! really disturbing causes. And most of these dangerous diseases manifest themselves not too much.

When the pain in the neck is really dangerous

Sometimes neck pain may be a symptom of an autoimmune disease, cancer, inflammation, nerve entrapment, problems with blood vessels or spinal cord injury. Suggests the disease can be unpleasant if you see at once three important trait.

1. Discomfort or pain in the neck does not stop at least a few days.
2. Discomfort increase.
3. Do you have at least one "aggravating factor":
   • older than 55 or younger than 20 years;
   • increasing pain when tapped;
   • fever, nausea and malaise;
   • weight loss;
   • regular headaches;
   • stiffness in the simplest of movements;
   • numbness, Tingling, weakness in other parts of the body - arms or legs.

When the coincidence of all three items, try as soon as possible address to the therapist. The doctor will prescribe tests and possibly send to specialists to clarify the causes and diagnosis.

There is one more obvious situation when the pain can not be left without immediate attention: if you are involved in an accident, fell from bicycle, ski, snowboard or injured in another way and acute pain in the neck occurred immediately thereafter. Here you can immediately contact the emergency room or to a surgeon.

Why sore neck

The neck is thin and flexible, and it is necessary to hold a heavy head, which is also a spinning back and forth, breaking the balance. In general, lack of voltage. But in some situationsNeck pain the load is increased and there is pain. In addition, often a role in the occurrence of the last play, and other factors.

muscle tension

Almost all familiar with him, who spends a lot of time at computer or table. Sitting, we unconsciously We serve forward, carrying the head of the shoulder girdle. To keep it in a non-physiological position, the muscles have to seriously strain. If it lasts for hours, the neck starts to hurt.

There is an additional detail: eventually the muscles get used to be in the wrong position, and they are not so easy to relax. So, tension headaches have become regular.

By the way, the neck muscles are overloaded, even such seemingly innocuous things like reading in bed or a habit of clenching your teeth.

worn joints

Like other joints in the body, neck wear out with age. Gaskets between them - elastic cartilage, which provide the necessary shock absorption under load and soft turns - become thinner, and sometimes even destroyed.

Due thinned cartilage joints when moving rubbing against each other. This causes stiffness and soreness.

whiplash injuries

You are traveling, for example, in the bus, and at some point it dramatically slows down. Your head coasting is fed forward, then leans back and again moves forward on his chest.

The load on the muscle increases, they greatly stretched, there are microfractures. Podiatrists call it whiplash injury because of the characteristic movement of the neck.

muscle inflammation

To run without a scarf in winter or sat in a draft - and that's blown neck. Speaking in medical terms, due to exposure to cold sore muscles - began myositisMyositis.

neck muscles can become inflamed as the background of infectious diseases: SARS, influenza, viral sore throat... Most often myositis is not dangerous in itself passes within a few days. However, it is important to keep track of the symptoms listed under "When the pain in the neck is really dangerous", in time to see a doctor if necessary.

Lymphatitis

Strictly speaking, in this case, not the sore neck and accumulation of lymphatic cells. Enlarged, painful lymph nodes - a sure sign that the body fights infectionSwollen lymph nodesConcentrated in the neck and head.

Most often, we are talking about the common cold - flu, SARS, ear infections. But sometimes cause inflammation of lymph nodes in the neck area may be "exotic". For example, developing caries in a dental starting measles, disorders immunity and even HIV.

To establish the exact cause can only be a qualified doctor, so carefully track their condition, in order not to miss the danger signs in time and consult with a specialist.

What if the neck hurts now

The vast majority of problems with the neck associated with muscle tension or pain, or a deterioration of the joints. These situations do not require special treatment. The discomfort usually passes within a few days.

Relieve pain, if it is absolutely spoil your life, doctors recommendWhy Does My Neck Hurt? So:

1. Take a pain reliever - Aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol.
2. Attach the neck wrapped in a thin towel ice pack or frozen vegetables - this is including help relieve swelling, if any. Use cold as possible during the first 2-3 days.
3. If the discomfort did not pass in 2-3 days, to facilitate the condition better with the help of wet heat. For example, taking hot shower or applying to the neck soaked in hot water towel.
4. make exercisesThat will gently stretch the neck muscles and improve circulation. Note workout banned in acute pain or suspected disease of the cervical spine - a pinched nerve, herniated, and so on. Again check against your feelings with paragraph "When the pain in the neck is really dangerous" and in case of doubt as soon as possible, consult with your doctor.

What to do to the neck does not hurt

The most effective way to deal with pain in the neck - prevention. To make life easier for this important part of the body, keep the following guidelines.

1. Watch out for bearing. When you are standing or sitting, make sure your shoulders are positioned directly over the hips, and ears - on his shoulders.
2. Take breaks and warm-up. If you work a lot at the computer sitting or traveling, at every opportunity, get up, move, knead your shoulders and pull the neck.
3. Adjust the height of the desk and chair, a monitor and a computer keyboard. The display should be at the level of your eyes and knees - just below the hips. Keyboard - to lie on the table so that you can work comfortably on her elbows on the arms of the chair.
4. Get rid of the habit of holding the phone between ear and shoulder while talking. If your hands are busy, use a headset or speakerphone.
5. If you smoke, here's one more reason throw. Smoking worsens the condition of blood vessels supplying the muscles and cartilage. As a result, it increases the risk of pain in the neck.
6. Do not carry heavy bags on the shoulder strap.
7. Sleep so that the head and neck are flush with the body - this will reduce the load on the spine. Ideally, sleep on your back, put it under his neck a small roller, and under the hips - a flat cushion.
8. Keep track of your menu, even if right now you have no pain. A balanced diet will provide the muscle power and prolong the health of joints.
9. Be careful, avoid drafts and injuries.
10. Take care in health colds season. Layfhaker I have been advised as not catch the flu.