Does your neck hurt? Well, it’s a common problem with a lot of causes. Your neck holds the whole body weight all day long, the bones at the top of your spine, on with your muscles and ligaments, hold your head, which weighs about 11 pounds.
It can be a fragile balance. Things like sleeping wrong and bad posture can cause neck pain, but it isn’t usually a symptom of a more serious health problem.
Reasons for neck pain
Many things can cause your neck to hurt:
- Poor posture
- Repetitive motion
- Bad sleep habits
- Gritting your teeth
- Carrying a heavy shoulder bag or purse
- Pinched nerves
- Sports or other injuries
- Car accidents involving whiplash
- Arthritis
- Infection
- Tumors
- A fractured or collapsed vertebra, which can be related to osteoporosis
- A slipped (herniated) disk
- Fibromyalgia
- Narrowed spaces within your spine (spinal stenosis)
Mend your posture to fix your neck pain. Sit or stand with your shoulders directly over your hips and your head straight. Adjust your chair or desktop so your computer monitor is at eye level. Take frequent breaks. Don’t tuck your phone between your ear and shoulder. Use a speakerphone or headset instead. Try not to carry heavy bags with shoulder straps.
Try a different pillow if you’re waking up with a stiff neck. Some people find that a relatively flat one, or one with built-in neck support, works best. Sleeping on your back or side, not your belly, also allows your neck muscles and ligaments to get the rest they need.