It's no secret that stress can wreak havoc on our minds and bodies. We've all felt it before: the tightness in the chests, the shortness of breath, the knots or butterflies in the stomach. But did you know that even emotional stress can physically affect your neck? That's right, and stress can trigger neck pain. So let's take a closer look at how this happens and what you can do to ease neck pain in Stow.

The Link Between Stress and Neck Pain

There are a few different ways that stress can trigger neck pain. Below are some possible ways that cause neck pain.

• Some stressed people tend to hold their heads and necks in unnatural positions. This can lead to muscle tension and inflammation, which can then cause pain.
• The body tends to produce more cortisol when stressed. Cortisol is also called the "stress hormone." High levels of cortisol can weaken the discs in your spine, which can make you more susceptible to injury and pain. 
• Some people under a lot of emotional stress are more likely to develop chronic neck pain than those who aren't. 
• Stress can take a toll on your mental and physical health. When stressed, your muscles tense up, and you may end up hunched over or with your head in your hands. This poor posture can lead to neck pain or worsen existing neck pain.
• Emotional stress can also lead to tightness in the jaw, face, and head muscles. This tightness can cause headaches as well as lingering neck pain. 
• Stress can contribute to neck pain by making you more susceptible to injury. When stressed, you're not as focused or coordinated, which can increase your risk of accidents, resulting in whiplash or other injuries to the neck.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and neck pain download our complimentary e-book Simple and Extremely Effective Ways to Stop your Lingering Neck Pain by clicking the image below.

Managing your stress level is essential to protect your overall health and find healthy ways to reduce neck pain in Stow.

Tips to ease neck pain due to emotional stress

If you notice neck pain following an emotionally stressful event, you can do a few things to ease the discomfort. Below are a few things that may help ease neck pain in Stow. 

#1. Practice good posture

This will help relieve muscle tension and reduce the chances of further injury. 

#2. Relax

Consider implementing some relaxation techniques into your daily routine. It can be as simple as a few deep breaths or spending a few minutes reading each day. Time to relax will help lower cortisol levels and ease neck pain. 

#3. Gentle stretches

You can do gentle stretching exercises by yourself or try working with a trained massage or physical therapist. By doing so, you can loosen your tight muscles and increase blood flow to the neck area. 

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care: A Promising Solution For Neck Pain In Stow

In addition to these at-home remedies we mentioned above, physical stress can be the underlying reason for neck pain apart from emotional stress. Physical stress can lead to upper cervical misalignment, bringing various symptoms and health concerns, including neck pain.

Upper chiropractic care can help correct a misalignment in the upper cervical spine, which is a promising relief from neck pain. Upper cervical chiropractors focus on aligning the bones in the upper part of the spine, the area closest to the head and neck. When these bones shift out of alignment, they can pressure the nerves in the area, leading to muscle tension, inflammation, headaches, and neck pain. 

By aligning these bones and taking pressure off the nerves, upper cervical chiropractors like Dr. Besso can provide lasting relief from even the most chronic cases of neck pain. If you want to have your spine alignment checked, you can book an appointment by using this online contact form. This natural method is known to provide lasting relief. It works wonders for many people, especially those who previously sustained a neck or head trauma.