And how much time we spend in transport or sitting at a table!So we pay for it with various diseases, on the contrary, the leading cervical osteochondrosis.Well, what should we do with it?
It's different for everyone
Cervical osteochondrosis is not a flu of sudden "attacks": pathological changes in sudden "attacks" develop slowly, become "mature", gain strength.As a rule, we do not pay attention to the first signals, because we do not know anything about them.Experts say it's time to see a doctor if you suddenly feel uncomfortable sleeping on a high pillow or your hands start to feel numb and cold for no reason.
Since we are all different, each has its own "specific" manifestations of the disease.But "the process has started", most often the following symptoms "signal" for the beginning of problems:
- Paroxysmal, painful headache, usually starting at the back of the head and then spreading to the crown and temples;
- Pain in shoulder, forearm, hands;
- Hooking, burning, tingling in arms or legs;
- dizziness and fainting when the head suddenly turns;
- tinnitus;
- Sometimes it hits the shoulder blade and forearm, suppressing the pain in the heart region.With osteochondrosis, unlike angina pectoris, it can last for several days and even intensify.
Do not step without the same climb!
We have to learn to live with any chronic disease, and cervical osteochondrosis is no exception: periods of relative calm are replaced by exacerbations that we often provoke ourselves.So, let's learn to "hold the line" - to avoid situations that could lead to another attack.
Which one exactly?Do not read or watch TV while lying in bed to avoid overloading the cervical vertebrae.Be careful with household chores that require bending your head or, on the contrary, bending over for a long time or deceiving a flower bed with your favorite flowers.
When sitting at the computer, take a break every half hour to give your neck a chance to rest.Do not turn your head in any way while driving.In general, always and everywhere avoid sudden, impulsive movements of your head and neck.
The Fab Five
It is impossible to get rid of cervical osteochondrosis forever, no matter how effective treatment methods are promised to you.But it is quite possible to minimize the "visits" of an unpleasant guest.
Do special exercises twice a day to prevent attacks and complications.It takes very little time.Here are five simple exercises to do while sitting in a chair with your back straight.
- Bend your head forward and place your palms on your forehead.Put your head in your hand.Stay in this position for 10 seconds.Repeat the same, pressing your fingers on your temples.Now - to the back of the head.
- Sitting in a chair, lower your arms along your body, pull your head back and slowly turn to the left.Freeze in this pose for 30 seconds.Repeat the exercise by turning your head to the right.
- Raise your shoulders up, trying to reach your ears.Stay in this pose for 10 seconds.Lower your shoulders, take a deep breath, relax for 10-15 seconds.Repeat the same, raise one shoulder and lower the other.
- Lower your head, trying to press your chin to his chest.Repeat 5 times.
- Bend your head smoothly, forward, left, right.Repeat the movement three times in each direction.
Let's take it, let's warm up?
Self-massage also helps to activate neck muscles, improve blood supply and metabolic processes.It is not difficult at all and should not take more than five minutes, the main thing is to do the massage daily.So shall we start?
Take a comfortable position in a chair and relax.Press the four fingers of your palm against the back of your neck, hit from top to bottom.Repeat 3-4 times.
Do the same, but more strongly, massage the back of your neck only with your thumbs.
Use a circular motion (again using only four fingers of each palm) moving from top to top along lines running parallel to the spine.
Stretch your neck muscles: first on the right side, using your left hand, hold the muscle with your thumb and four others, pinch lightly and move your thumb towards your palm.Repeat the same on the left side of the neck, working with your right hand.
Finally, complete the massage by stroking from top to bottom.
Don't just rely on yourself
Prevention is very good, but with osteochondrosis, you need to cover your own neck with the attention of doctors.Especially if you are over forty.Time tells us not only externally, but also internally - pathological changes in the cervical spine are accelerating, and the number one task here is "monitoring" its condition.
The vessels that supply blood to the brain pass through the cervical spine.Violations of blood supply caused by vascular compression cause unpleasant complications.One of the most common is associated with changes in the hypothalamus, a special department "responsible" for emotional state, metabolism, blood pressure, cardiovascular system activity and more.
This results in insomnia, irritability, memory loss, severe migraines and increased blood pressure.
If you want to help yourself, try it.X-ray of the cervical spine makes it possible to monitor bad changes;To clarify the diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging, dopplerography of cerebral vessels and some other examinations are performed.