Some Useful Tips to Ease Neck Pain: Part 1
Home Remedies for Easing Neck Pain
Neck pain may have a number of different causes and the variety of pain types means that nearly everyone experiences some sort of neck-pain problem at some point during their lives. People who don’t experience neck pain at all or have occasional minor problems with their neck are probably doing a few specific things that help prevent problems in the neck and shoulder area. According to doctors 7 out of 10 people usually encounter neck pain in their life time. Neck and shoulder is vulnerable to pain. Did you know neck pain is the real cause of 90 percent undiagnosed headaches?
At the top of the list of things to do to prevent neck pain are: exercise, diet – eating healthy foods that contribute to overall good physical condition; plenty of water – this is essential to keep the body hydrated and the joints flexible.
Here are some useful steps which will help your neck pain at bay:
1. Apply heat or ice to the painful area. One good method is to use ice for the first 48 - 72 hours, then use heat after that. Heat may be applied with hot showers, hot compresses, or a heating pad. Be careful not to fall asleep with a heating pad on.
2. Stop normal physical activity for the first few days. This helps calm your symptoms and reduce inflammation.
3. Relax. Emotional stress can trigger muscle tension. Pay attention to what stresses you: your drive to work, meetings with your boss, and so on. After you've identified your common stressors, think creatively about ways to reduce your stress. One way to manage stress is through relaxation techniques, such as progressive relaxation or abdominal breathing.
To perform progressive relaxation, find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed. Sit or lie down and close your eyes. Then, starting with your head and neck and working down the entire body, consciously tighten, or tense, and then completely release the muscles in the area.
To perform abdominal breathing, sit quietly and take a slow, deep breath all the way into your abdomen; place a hand on your abdomen to feel it expand and confirm you are breathing deeply enough. Then exhale completely, gently sucking in your stomach. Breathe slowly and deeply like this for several minutes (if you do this too quickly, you may begin to hyperventilate).
Other relaxation techniques include meditation, yoga, and exercise. In addition, you may want to develop some of your own methods of relaxation, such as engaging in a hobby or listening to peaceful music. Do whatever works for you.
4.Use massage. Massage can help ease tense muscles and give temporary relief, and it may help you sleep better. First, take a hot bath or shower to relax the muscles. Then, have your partner use olive oil or lotion and rub your neck and shoulders using the fingers to apply gentle pressure in small circular motions. Next, have your partner rub your neck and shoulders using firm pressure and long, downward strokes. Don't forget the chest area. If you don't have a willing partner, try rubbing your own neck and chest area with olive oil or lotion for 10 or 15 minutes.
Sources:
thegeminigeek.com
healthcentral.com
health.howstuffworks.com
Other links:
Why Exercising in the Morning Will Change Your Life
Computers Can Be a Real Pain
After Exercise Headache
