Does this sound familiar? For the past few days, your neck has been killing you and you can’t seem to figure out why. You haven’t been involved in an accident or suffered an injury, but you feel stiff and maybe it’s starting to impact your sleep. We’ve all been there, so what is the cause of this annoying neck pain? Here is a look at some common reasons you might be experiencing neck pain and solutions for treating it.

Your Desk Job

If you work at a desk in front of a computer screen on a daily basis, neck problems are bound to be a problem at some point. The stress and strain that comes from sitting straight up (sometimes with poor posture) wreak havoc on your neck muscles. There are a few things you can do to remedy this problem:

  • Sit right. Good posture is important when sitting at a desk all day. Your feet should be firmly planted on the floor, back flush up against the office chair, and your head in a neutral position.
  • Walk. Get up and walk around at least every 30 minutes to an hour to get the blood flowing, muscles moving and remove the stiffness from sitting so long.
  • Get a neck hammock. A neck hammock over the door cervical traction device is great for working out the aches and pain in the neck. The devices can help to stretch and oxygenate the muscles, relieve pain, improve posture, and restore mobility.

Your Underwear

This one is strictly for the ladies. If you’re experiencing neck pain but can’t figure out why it could be the type of bra you’re wearing. For women with larger breasts, having the right support is imperative to prevent strain on the neck and upper back. Additionally if your bra is too tight and digging in it could be impacting your posture. If you’re wearing a bra that doesn’t hold it together in all the right places and feel comfortable, there’s only one solution. It’s time to invest in higher-quality bras. Whether you prefer to wear t-shirt bras or sports bras you need to get the right size in the cup and circumference. A good bra is a girl’s best friend!

Your Stress Levels

It has been long proven that matters of the mind can eventually impact the body. High stress levels can essentially increase tension in your neck region. Here are some remedies to beating stress-induced neck pain.

  • Neck stretches. Stretching your neck regularly can loosen muscles and relieve tension. You may also want to try cbd pain relief to see if it works for you.
  • Massages. A good rub down from a reputable massage therapist can help to reach pressure points in the neck reducing inflammation, stress and tension, commonly associated with stress.
  • Therapy. If you’re burned out, overworked, suffering from traumatic experiences or going through a difficult time in your life that’s causing stress then talk therapy may be necessary. A therapist won’t be able to get rid of the pain immediately, but they can work with you to find common solutions to life that relieve the stress.

Your Workout Routine

Everyone knows that staying active is an imperative part of being healthy. Though working out is ideal, it can lead to neck problems. Too much of an activity can cause overuse of neck and shoulder muscles while improper positioning can result in pinched nerves, injuries and neck strain. You can relieve pain associated with your workouts by:

  • Know your limits. Don’t overwork yourself. If you’re doing exercise and start to feel a lot of pain, stop and give your body a chance to rest.
  • Correct your posture. From doing situps and pull-ups to crunches and weightlifting, proper posture is important to avoid injury.

Pain is difficult to live with on any part of the body, but the neck is by far one of the most common and the most challenging. When your neck is hurting, it makes everything from turning your head to walking and participating in daily activities nearly impossible. If you’ve been dealing with unexplained neck pain, consider one of the root causes mentioned above. If that doesn’t work, your best bet is to speak with a chiropractor for further treatment.