Recently, Karen felt as if her neck was about to "fall off" at any moment, and it kept making a cracking sound when she turned it, especially when she woke up in the morning.

At first, Karen thought it was due to maintaining the same posture all night, but after a day, the symptom of the cracking sound when turning her neck had not improved. This made Karen feel that something was wrong, but apart from the sound, she did not have any other physical discomfort.

So they specifically sent a private message to ask the editor what caused their neck to crack. Let's read on to find out.

Why does my neck make a cracking sound when I turn it?

When you turn your neck, any unusual sounds may be caused by physiological or pathological reasons. Let's explain them one by one.

I. Physiological reasons

The clicking or popping sound when you turn your neck is actually caused by cervical spine popping. Cervical spine popping is an abnormal sound that usually occurs when the cervical spine is flexed or extended, and you can feel an abnormal sound in your neck when you move it.

The cause of cervical spine popping is mostly poor posture . The shape of our cervical spine makes it very flexible and can perform many movements, such as forward flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation, which can help it respond fully to visual, auditory and olfactory stimuli.

A normal cervical spine should have a physiological curvature to cushion the head and lower vertebrae. Many modern people maintain poor posture for extended periods; for example, poor sitting posture can cause the cervical spine to lengthen and straighten, leading to stiff and painful shoulders, and a clicking or cracking sound when turning the neck.

In addition, prolonged sitting or lying down while looking at mobile phones or reading can also damage the cervical spine, easily leading to shoulder and neck pain, headaches, and stiff neck.

II. Pathological causes

(1) Cervical spine aging

As we age, the cervical spine undergoes degenerative changes , with strain and aging affecting the intervertebral discs, surrounding muscles, and ligaments. In this state, it is very easy to irritate or compress the nerves and blood vessels around the neck, causing symptoms such as neck pain and clicking sounds.

(2) Calcium deficiency

Calcium deficiency can also cause abnormal cracking sounds in the neck. Calcium is an essential element in the human skeletal system. Calcium deficiency can lead to osteoporosis, decreased bone mass, and other abnormal symptoms. A cracking sound when turning the neck is one such symptom.

(3) Qi and blood deficiency

When the body's Qi and blood are insufficient, it can affect blood circulation throughout the body, resulting in reduced blood flow to the shoulders and neck. Insufficient blood supply can easily lead to abnormal sounds or cracking in the cervical spine.

(4) Bubble release

There may be air bubbles inside the cervical joints. When maintaining the same posture for a long time, it can lead to local muscle fatigue, which can easily cause spasms and fluid accumulation . When turning the neck, the fluid inside the joint will be squeezed, which can produce abnormal clicking sounds.

After understanding the reasons, let's learn how to prevent this from happening. Just do these things.

To avoid cervical spondylosis, stay away from these 5 bad habits.

First, avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time in daily life . Staying in the same posture for a long time can cause neck muscle tension, joint fatigue, and easily lead to cervical spondylosis.

Secondly, to prevent cervical spondylosis, it is also necessary to avoid excessive drinking . Long-term heavy drinking will affect the body's calcium metabolism and absorption. When the body cannot absorb enough calcium, it is easy to cause bone abnormalities, including cervical spondylosis.

Thirdly, avoid prolonged periods of tilting your head while answering the phone . Many people are used to answering the phone while working, holding the phone behind their ear to free their hands, unaware that maintaining this posture for extended periods is very detrimental to cervical spine health. Even if you need to answer the phone in this position, be mindful of the duration and move your neck around every ten minutes or so.

Fourth, avoid looking down at your phone for extended periods . When you look down, your neck muscles are constantly under tension, which can lead to forward head posture and cervical spondylosis over time.

Finally, women should reduce the frequency of wearing high heels in their daily lives . Wearing high heels for extended periods shifts the center of gravity forward and increases the curvature of the spine, leading to increased pressure on the cervical and lumbar spine and potentially triggering cervical spondylosis.

The cold winter months are a peak season for cervical spondylosis. How can we protect our cervical spine during the winter?

How to protect your cervical spine in winter?

Keeping warm is important: In winter, it's essential to keep your neck warm to prevent cold and dampness from entering. This can be achieved by wearing a scarf, high-necked clothing , or applying a warm compress to dispel wind and cold.

The right pillow is essential for neck health. It is generally recommended to choose a pillow that is low in the middle and high at both ends . This type of pillow can support the neck and prevent the neck from straightening.

Neck exercises are important: You can do appropriate neck muscle exercises in your daily life. For example, when sitting, put your hands behind your head and tilt your head back to create resistance between your hands and your head. This can help exercise the muscles on the back of your neck and greatly improve the stability of your cervical spine.

Maintain proper posture: When sitting, pay attention to maintaining correct posture, keeping your back straight and your neck centered in the middle of your body . This correct posture helps maintain the stability of the lumbar and cervical spine, increases their coordination, and protects the cervical spine.

Be careful with massage: Many people's first reaction to neck discomfort is to get a massage, but massage only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. After a brief period of relief, the neck pain will soon return, and it may even cause muscle adhesions in the neck. Frequent massage is not recommended in daily life. To improve cervical spine health, you need to start with the details of your daily routine.

Neck health is very important for everyone. Have you learned the methods mentioned above?