Stiff Neck

Today, with the increasing cutthroat competition in the modern world, our lives have become more stressful. In order to succeed we must keep ourselves recharged and highly motivated. It is essential for our health to remain active, but if you are suffering from stiff neck or any other bodily discomfort, it will be very difficult for you get motivated.

Stiff Neck Causes

A stiff neck is a common ailment, normally harmless, that may last for a few painful hours or even days. Generally, our physicians term it as a 'Cervical Spasm'. So, most of the time, you are just experiencing the effects of sore muscles. But wait, stiff neck should not be taken so lightly. If you are frequently suffering from this painful condition, it's best for you to consult a physician and get to the root cause of it.

Sometimes, stiff neck is an outcome of a concussion to head or neck. There is a possibility of some serious diseases associated with this symptom. Meningitis and high blood pressure are the two commonly found serious ailments associated with it. It can also be a symptom of other diseases like brain inflammation which is characterized by abnormal nausea. So it is always better visit your doctor, for an accurate diagnosis.

If the cause of stiff neck is muscle spasms or aches then you will get relief from the pain after sometime. But if you experience fever, vomiting along with the pain due to stiff neck then it can be symptoms of simple viral illness or meningitis or a more serious infection around the brain. In such cases consult your doctor immediately.

If you are experiencing throbbing pain or numbness down your shoulder or into your arm then you may be suffering from herniated cervical disk. In this ailment the part of vertebra of spinal cord grows abnormally resulting in pressing against nerve. Stiff neck can also be outcome of rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia, a condition where muscles and tendons get affected. It can be also a case of degenerative cervical arthritis. Anti-inflammatory medicines like Ibuprofen and Aspirin can be used to get instant relief. Gentle heat can be applied to the sore area. Consulting your physician is always the best thing you can do.

Remedies For a Stiff Neck

As mentioned above, normally, stiff neck is an outcome of our poor posture and our lifestyle. Most of the time, we ourselves get so habituated of our poor posture that we gradually stiffen our necks, shoulders and backs over the period. In most cases, using a thick pillow while sleeping is one of the prime reasons why people suffer from a stiff neck. Physical or mental stress tenses the muscles in your neck. Here are few remedies to avoid this situation.

Avoid Stress
In today's fast-moving world, stress often causes the neck muscles and upper shoulder muscles to tighten. Relaxing your body and taking adequate breaks to warm up and exercise can help avoid stress. Use relaxation techniques to get rid of stress. Lying on the ground with your bent knees, flat feet, and a paperback book underneath your head can be a good starting posture for exercising relaxation. Imagine your body relaxing from head to toe and engage in deep breathing.

Check Bed and Pillow
In most of the cases this is easiest thing to do, that'll bring quick comfort. A mattress or bed that doesn't provide the necessary support is a common cause in neck pain. Even an old and hard pillow can lead to stiff neck. Remember, you do spend one-third of life in bed so it's very essential to provide optimum support to the body.

Avoid Cold Exposure
Exposure to cold is another common cause of stiff neck. Neck pain can be a punishment for sleeping with the windows open on a full night. People from old age group are more susceptible to neck pain caused by cold exposure. So avoid keeping the bedroom windows open. Also try to keep the windows closed on your side while driving.

Massage
An oil massage serves as one to of the best tools to get quick relief from a stiff neck. Although it serves as a temporary solution, it is very helpful to get an instant relief. Expert massage therapists know the anatomy well enough to know which muscle should be focused on. You can also learn the same massage.

Pain Killers
This remedy also forms a temporary solution of the problem but can give a quick relief and ease your pain. Pain Killers like aspirin should be tried, to reduce the swelling and inflammation of neck. It has to be understood that these pain killers or muscle relaxants can only mask the problems but will not address the underlying cause.

Gentle Hot Shower
A hot shower can also help to relieve the tension in the neck muscles. The hot shower gently massages the neck muscle by allowing heat to seep into the muscles.

Isotonic Exercises
Isotonic exercises strengthen the muscles of neck in upper shoulder region. Thus minimizing the possibility of injury in this area. These exercises increase flexibility and reduce the probability of a stiff neck condition.

If you are into a sedentary lifestyle, it's vitally important that you engage in rigorous exercise regularly, if you want to prevent muscular cramps that cause a stiff neck or stiff back. Good posture, lots of exercise and adequate rest will keep you fit and ready to take on life.