What Are The Common Causes of Neck Pain And How To Resolve Them

Your neck is one of the most important parts of your body. It supports your head and helps you to move around comfortably throughout the day. Unfortunately, the neck is also one of the most delicate components of your body, comprised of various muscles, sensitive tissues, and spinal bones. Over time, it’s easy to fall victim to issues that cause pain and discomfort in this area.

Although sometimes people experience pain without any obvious reason, there are some common causes of general neck discomfort that you can overcome with the right treatment strategies.

1. Bad Sleeping Position

One of the most common causes of neck pain is having a poor sleeping position when you go to bed each night. If you don’t have the right bedding available to you or you lie in an awkward position, then you might wake up with strain in your shoulders, back, neck, and jaw. This is because you haven’t been able to distribute your weight evenly while you slept. See more here on some alternatives to sleep more comfortably.

To overcome neck pain caused by a poor sleeping position, all you need to do is invest in the right mattress and pillows. While your mattress helps to keep your spine aligned, your pillow provides the best level of support for your neck and head based on your sleeping style. If you sleep on your side, opt for a deep and firm pillow. If you sleep on your back or front, choose something softer.

2. Stress and Anxiety

As feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression become more common for people around the world, it’s worth noting that emotional issues can have an impact on your physical health too. When you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by your day-to-day life, you’ll find that your body begins to tense up subconsciously.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all cure for stress and anxiety, there are various things that you can do to reduce your exposure to these feelings. For instance, you might consider trying meditation or therapy as a way of reducing your issues with stress. Some people benefit from adding more exercise and physical activity into their daily routines.

3. General Wear and Tear

We often don’t notice how much strain we put our necks through each day. If you’re constantly craning to look at your smartphone when you’re connecting with friends and coworkers or sitting at an uncomfortable seat at work, then your neck will take the brunt of the impact. Although small issues like posture and ergonomic alignment might not have huge side effects straight away, they could gradually lead to more long-term problems.

To reduce your chances of general wear and tear, start thinking about your posture and how you hold your head each day. Don’t stare hunched over at your phone too often, bring your device up to face level instead.

Overcoming Common Conditions

Finally, there are various painful conditions that can occur and affect the neck, spine, and head. For instance, Torticollis is a condition when the head is twisted to one side and become difficult to straighten. Usually, this condition happens overnight, caused by minor sprains in the neck. Keeping your neck warm and avoiding awkward sleeping positions can reduce your risk of Torticollis.

Acute injuries such as cervical radiculopathy or pinched nerves can also affect the neck. When you injure your neck, you’ll need to seek medical attention and take the painkillers prescribed by your doctor.

While you can’t always prepare for every neck issue you might face, you can ensure that you know how to deal with the pain.