Sore Neck and Headache

When a sore neck and headache attacks the body simultaneously, it can make anybody's life a living hell. Soreness in neck occurs due to muscle strain and causes mild to moderate pain while moving the neck. Stress and overuse of muscles located near the jaw line is the most common cause of neck pain and headache. Studies also reveal that headache is commonly associated with neck problems.

Causes
Stiffening of neck and headache can be a sign of a number of ailments. Sitting in front of the computer for a considerable amount of time in an attempt to complete project deadline, skipping important meals of the day, too much alcohol consumption and lack of sleep are some of the risk factors of headache and neck pain. It is discussed below:

Poor Neck Posture: Standing or sitting in a position that puts undue strain on the neck, increases the chances of sore neck and headache. Children while playing or studying, many times, unknowingly put the neck in an uncomfortable position. This can trigger neck problems and bring tension in the head. In fact, inappropriate neck posture is often responsible for causing neck pain, stiffness and headache in children. Also, performing activities that are usually not done by children such as painting a ceiling for a considerable period of time, can cause neck strain and headache.

Sore Throat: Believe it or not, but a sore throat can simultaneously cause a neck pain and headache. This condition causes inflammation of the throat and is accompanied by difficulty in swallowing. Sore throat triggers is a viral infection and may lead to dryness in throat. People affected with common cold often complain about this sore throat that restricts neck movements and cause pain in the head. This throat condition makes it painful to turn and look behind.

Tension Headaches: The distress associated with tension headaches often spreads down to the neck, shoulders and the jaw. Neck and shoulder muscles tighten resulting in moderate to severe pain. Tension headaches are typically marked by unusual feeling of tightness on the forehead that eventually spreads to the sides of the head. In this type of headache, the neck and scalp muscles contract abnormally causing moderately intense pain. Tension headaches may occur at regularly intervals (after a gap of 15 days) or everyday and the associated discomfort is often long-lasting but in some cases the throbbing pain goes away within half an hour. Too much stress, anxiety, depression, exhaustion and inappropriate posture are some of the common culprits of tension headaches.

Meningitis: Persistent stiff sore neck headache could well indicate that the person is suffering from meningitis. As we all know, meningitis is a viral infection that specifically targets the membranes that act as a protective covering for the spinal cord and brain. As a result, these membranes show noticeable signs of inflammation. People having meningitis experience severe headache and a constant hurting neck, that can interfere with normal sleeping habits.

Chronic Gum Chewing: Headache and neck pain has also been attributed to the habit of chewing gum for long periods of time. This may sound bizarre but studies show that chronic gum chewing tends to put excessive stress on the muscles of the head and neck. This is one of the reasons why experts say that chewing gum is not good for your health.

Influenza (Flu): People suffering from influenza, also experience minor pain that usually begins from the back and then travels up to the neck and head. The pain aggravates over time and normally require painkillers to relieve the pain. Influenza is a respiratory disorders in which the infection affects the throat, nose and the lungs. This condition causes nasal congestion and muscular aches, especially in the neck and arms.

Sinusitis: Sinusitis is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the sinuses and partial or complete blockage of nasal passages. Sinus problems are indeed troublesome and can cause sore neck and headache. Sinuses trigger stuffy nose and severe pain in the forehead. Tightening of neck muscles leads to stiff neck. Sinusitis can also cause constant headaches and neck pain.

Neck Arthritis: This is a condition in which the muscles that are responsible for normal neck motion, lose their elasticity. The neck joints slowly deteriorate due to continuous exposure to poor posture. Neck arthritis is typically accompanied by intermittent periods of headache.

Taking adequate sleep, massaging the back side of the neck to relieve muscle strain, discarding alcohol and smoking from your lifestyle and practicing meditation and yoga for stress relief, are some of the home remedies to treat and prevent tension headaches.

Recurring sore neck and headache lasting for prolonged periods of time has to be addressed immediately. Consultation with a well qualified doctor to manage the debilitating pain effectively is necessary. Doing neck exercises as well as following proper posture techniques are some of the 'easy to implement' treatment methods to reduce the occurrence of this debilitating condition.