What is cervical spine degeneration?

Cervical spine degeneration is a condition that occurs when the vertebrae in the neck area undergo wear and tear. This means that the structures within the vertebrae, such as cartilage, discs, and ligaments, become damaged or weakened over time. This leads to disrupted blood flow and nerve function, ultimately causing cervical spine degeneration.

Causes of cervical spine degeneration and incorrect lifestyle habits?

There are many causes of cervical spine degeneration, with the main risks including:

• Age: As the body ages, connective tissues like cartilage and discs lose their flexibility. Discs contain a large amount of water, but as we age, the water content in the discs decreases, leading to degeneration.
• Injuries: People who have experienced neck injuries due to accidents, labor, or improper physical activity may damage the cervical spine. If these injuries are not treated properly, they can lead to faster degeneration.
• Genetics: Genetic factors can also increase the risk of cervical spine degeneration.
• Work and lifestyle habits: This is the main cause behind many young people, especially office workers, developing this condition. The nature of the job often requires them to sit for extended periods, hunch forward, or use computers for long hours, all of which increase the risk of developing cervical spine degeneration.

Common symptoms of cervical spine degeneration

This disease does not have easily noticeable symptoms in the early stages, so some patients may not realize they have it until the condition worsens. When the disease progresses to a more advanced stage, the symptoms of cervical spine degeneration become more apparent:

• Pain: Patients often experience pain in the neck and surrounding muscles and joints, such as the shoulders, upper back, and behind the ears. In many cases, the pain may radiate to the head, causing discomfort. The pain can last for several days, depending on the individual’s condition.
• Loss of sensation in hands: Cervical spine degeneration affects the motor nerves due to the compression of the degenerated spine. As a result, some patients may experience numbness in their hands, weakness in hand movements, and if untreated, this could lead to paralysis.
• Stiff neck in the morning: Upon waking up in the morning, patients often feel pain and stiffness in the neck area. They may have difficulty turning their head left or right and may need to turn their whole body to look in a different direction.

Ways to reduce the risk of cervical spine degeneration

To reduce the risk of cervical spine degeneration, you can follow these steps:

• Maintain proper posture while sitting and working: 

To maintain proper posture and avoid cervical spine degeneration, adjust your chair so that your feet are flat on the floor and your lower back has comfortable support to keep your spine straight. The screen should be at eye level, about 50-70 cm away, to avoid tilting or extending your neck. Keep the keyboard and mouse at a reachable position to maintain a neutral wrist position while working. If you have to sit for a long time, remember to stand up and move around for 5-10 minutes every hour to reduce pressure on your neck and help your body relax and stay focused.

• Exercise regularly: 

Before performing exercises, you should stretch your muscles to enhance the effectiveness of your workouts and strengthen your neck and shoulder muscles. You can refer to 5 cardio exercises to choose the ones that best fit your body.

• Sleep properly:

Since we sleep for about 6-8 hours daily, prolonged poor sleeping posture can increase pressure on the joints and muscles of the neck and shoulders, leading to cervical spine degeneration. Choosing the right pillow is also important to support your neck while sleeping. Opt for a pillow with a moderate height to keep your neck and spine aligned while lying down. The pillow should be firm enough to support your neck but not too soft to prevent sinking too deeply. Memory foam or latex pillows are great options. Those with regular neck or shoulder pain should consider an ergonomic pillow designed to provide better support for the neck and shoulders.

• Regular health checkups: 

Many people believe they should visit a hospital only when they have noticeable symptoms. However, some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or joint degeneration, may not show clear signs in the early stages. It is recommended to have annual health checkups to detect early symptoms of cervical spine degeneration so that you can receive timely treatment.

Cervical spine degeneration is not a life-threatening disease, but it can cause long-term consequences. Understanding the causes and prevention methods will help you avoid this condition. Pay attention to your lifestyle habits to protect your health!