The latest survey shows that due to long-term chronic strain, the average age of onset of cervical spondylosis has advanced from 40 to 30 years old, and it has become an occupational disease for those who work at school, office and more. The neck pain will affect the daily work and life of patients, and severe cervical spondylosis may cause paralysis.
The cervical spine supports the head, and connects to the torso of the body. It is not only the most active part of the spine, but also the most important part of the nerve center, and it is the only way for the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular. Once damaged, the consequences will be serious. Therefore, instead of waiting until the cervical spine is injured, and then accepting long-term and cumbersome treatment, it is better to pay more attention to maintaining the cervical spine in our daily life, so as not to damage the cervical spine. Here are some tips on how to keep your neck healthy.
1. Pick a good pillow and bed to sleep
Pillows and beds are intimate companions of our cervical spine. Too high or too low pillows, and too soft or too hard mattresses will cause damage to the cervical spine. The pillow with low middle and high ends has a good support on our neck, which can relax the cervical vertebra well.
Besides, for people with neck pain, you should give up the overly soft mattress, a slightly harder bed is the best choice.
2. Do outdoor sports regularly to maintain a healthy neck
Many people do not like to exercise, and inactivity for a long time will weaken the bones and even cause the degeneration of the cervical spine. Therefore, increasing outdoor activities is one of the ways to protect the health of the cervical spine. You can do yoga, swimming, playing tennis and other sports regularly.
3. Adjust your body posture regularly
Sitting for a long time is very harmful to the cervical spine. Remember to change your posture frequently during daily work, stretch your waist, and get up and move every hour, which can protect the cervical spine and the entire spine. Try to avoid working or studying with your head down for a long time, and correct bad posture of your neck.
4. Hot compress to relieve neck pain
Excessive fatigue during the day may cause pain or strain on the cervical spine. At night, you can apply a hot towel to the cervical spine to dredge the blood vessels in the cervical spine and relieve pain and fatigue in the cervical spine.
5. Keep your neck warm.
When the cervical spine is cold, it is easy to cause spasms in the muscles of the cervical spine, resulting in cervical spondylosis. In the hot summer, you should avoid the air conditioner blowing directly on your neck; While in winter, you should also wear a scarf to prevent the neck from being attacked by cold wind.
6. Avoid trauma to the cervical spine
Pay attention to the protection of the neck in life. Now many people like some extreme sports, such as bungee jumping, fighting, racing, gymnastics, etc., but pay attention to prevent neck injuries during sports. If the neck is injured, it is easy to cause the degenerative changes of the cervical spine to aggravate.
7. Neck massage
The human spine has its inherent physiological curvature. If it is kept in one posture for a long time, it will lead to imbalance of the body, poor blood circulation, and damage to the muscles and bones. After working for a long time, your cervical spine is already exhausted. If you can, you can do some massage to relieve your cervical spine fatigue and discomfort.
8. A good sleeping position to maintain a healthy neck
A good sleeping position should not only maintain the physiological curvature of the entire spine, but also make you feel comfortable, so as to relax the muscles of the whole body and easily recover from fatigue and adjust the physiological state of the joints. According to the requirements of this good posture, the chest and waist should be kept in a natural curvature, and the hips and knees should be flexed. At this time, the muscles of the whole body can be relaxed. In this way, it is better to lie on the side or on the back, not to sleep on your stomach.
Recommended reading: What Pillows You Need to Relieve Neck Pain?
The bottom line
Here are all our tips for you to maintain a healthy neck. Cervical spine health is not a trivial matter, you need to pay enough attention. Follow our tips to maintain your cervical spine, and you can effectively prevent your cervical spine from having problems.
