Neck pain is a common health problem for many people, mostly women. More than 50% of women complain about neck pain at least once in their lives. And it's one of the common reasons why they seek help from pain management NYC specialist.
The anatomy and physiology of women's necks are not different from men's. However, there are certain underlying causes for which women will be more prone to suffer from neck pain. I would like to share with you some reasons why women are more likely to experience neck pain.
Women tend to carry heavier handbags
Women tend to carry heavier handbags than men, often for long periods of time. As a result, the pressure of the handbag on the shoulder may result in pain in the neck.
In addition, the bags that they carry are often full of items like keys, makeup, and other personal items, making it even more difficult for them to carry the bag around without straining their neck muscles.
Women have a lower rate of physical activity
Women have a lower rate of physical activity than men do, which may explain why they have higher rates of musculoskeletal disorders such as neck pain. Women tend to participate less in sports and other physical activities than men do, which may be one reason why they're more likely to develop musculoskeletal disorders like neck pain.
A lower level of physical activity means less muscle strength and more risk of injury.
Staying active will help you retain a healthy range of motion and help keep pain from becoming chronic or worse.
The good news is that lots of activities can help you achieve this balance between flexibility and strength. Regular exercise helps to improve posture and strengthen muscles—two things that are key to protecting the spine from strain and injury.
Women tend to be smaller in the physical aspect
The reasons for this gender difference aren't completely clear, but one theory is that women's bodies are more susceptible because they tend to be smaller than men's bodies and therefore have less muscle mass in the neck area, which can make them more vulnerable to injury and damage from everyday activities such as lifting heavy objects or turning your head quickly while driving.
Women are neck pain victims more than men because of their physical characteristics. They have less muscular strength causing them to use the top two vertebrae in their neck as a substitute for strong muscles. Women also have inordinately long necks, and this makes them prone to pain in the upper neck area or cervical spine. Plus, they have smaller lower jaws with weaker muscles, causing them to rely on the cervical section to chew food.
In fact, even if women train their lower jaw muscles, there is no guarantee that they will be able to withstand the pressure applied by chewing. The tendency to experience high amounts of stress in the upper back also contributes to chronic neck pain among women.
Women are more prone to inflammation and degenerative joint conditions
In fact, osteoarthritis is two times more common in women than it is in men, and many other types of degenerative joint conditions are also more prominent in women.
This may be related to the fact that females tend to have narrower joints and smaller spaces between the discs in their spine. In addition, female hormones like estrogen and progesterone are known to cause fluid retention and muscle tension.
Women are more likely to have neck pain due to hormonal changes
Women are also more likely than men to experience hormonal changes at different stages in life, which can also contribute to muscle tension and chronic pain issues. During their monthly cycle, women experience changes in hormones that are responsible for promoting the proper function of the body.
During this time, the body is more susceptible to different types of aches and pains. The most common place where women feel the effects of these hormonal changes is the neck, shoulders, and upper back region.
This is because certain hormones such as estrogen and progesterone are responsible for increasing water retention in the tissues and fluids in other parts of the body. This can lead to swelling or puffiness in the joints and muscles, resulting in pain and discomfort.
Similarly, some women also experience a change in posture due to fluctuating hormone levels, which may cause them to stand or sit in an awkward position for long periods of time, further worsening the problem.
Another very common cause of neck pain in women is stress; stress-related hormones such as cortisol tend to travel through the bloodstream at high levels when we are under pressure. Cortisol tends to accumulate along with other stress hormones like adrenaline which causes more pressure on the muscles in our body, including our neck area.
Women are more susceptible to stress
We all know that stress is a major factor in the body's muscle tension, which can lead to chronic pain. Unfortunately, women are more susceptible to stress-related pain than men.
Most of us can relate to a feeling of tension in the neck and shoulder muscles. It's easy to let those areas be stressed out by the hustle and bustle of daily life—we sit at desks, look at screens, are constantly on our phones, and spend more time than we'd like to admit feeling anxious or frustrated. As a result, our necks and shoulders are exposed to a lot of stress, and they're also where we carry a lot of tension.
Women tend to hold their stress and tension in the neck and shoulder muscles, which is why so many women experience chronic pain. For women, keeping stress there can have a negative effect on the shoulders and upper back, which contributes to poor posture and neck pain. Keeping the stress in these neck and shoulder muscles also leads to conditions like headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff problems, and even depression.
[Suggested article: How To Manage Stress For Chronic Pain Sufferers]
Don't suffer from neck pain
Neck pain is not something to be taken lightly. It can interfere with your daily routine and lead to more serious issues. It's important to remember that neck pain doesn't discriminate based on gender, age, or occupation.
When possible, consult a pain management NYC specialist to determine if your neck pain stems from another issue. If it is not a result of other medical conditions, it will be helpful to learn how to manage your neck pain.
Specialists can help evaluate your condition, and come up with a customized treatment plan to help relieve your pain. Taking care of your health and working with your healthcare provider should help you find a treatment that works for you!
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