Another Reason To Get Help Now

Do you feel that your chronic neck pain is something that you just have to accept? Do you plan to address it later or seek treatment when you have more time? If you have been putting off treatment for your neck pain, you may want to think twice about waiting to get helpchronic neck pain may be associated with respiratory problems and weakness, according to the results of a recent study.

A team led by researchers in Greece explored whether patients who have ongoing neck pain also have problems with respiratory strength. Their study, Respiratory weakness in patients with chronic neck pain, was published online ahead of print in November 2012. It appears in the journal Manual Therapy.

Check out the results of this recent study belowand then read on to learn why you should seek help for chronic neck pain sooner rather than later.

How the Study Was ConductedThe researchers looked at data on 45 patients with chronic neck pain. They compared this data with that of 45 healthy patients who did not have a history of neck pain. The study authors then assessed the patients respiratory muscle strength and levels of pain and disability, neck muscle strength, range of movement in the neck, and other factors.

What the Researchers FoundThe results of the study showed that patients who had chronic neck pain were more likely to have problems with respiratory strength than patients without neck pain.

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When Should You Call 911 For A Heart Problem

At certain times, calling 911 right away is a must. If youre having chest pressure or chest tightness that started that day, you should not wait to go to your general practitioner, says Dr. Cho. Go to the emergency room.

You should also call 911 and get help right away if you have chest pain or discomfort along with any of the following symptoms, especially if they last longer than five minutes:

• Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including the arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
• Sweating or cold sweat.
• Light-headedness, dizziness, extreme weakness or anxiety.
• Rapid or irregular heartbeats.

Pain Intensifies When You Move

You had a recent fall, but you didnt think your back would hurt this much! If you had a traumatic injury, like a heavy object lands on your back or you slip on the ice and fall with your back striking the edge of a step, you can break a vertebral bone or a rib, notes Dr. Tien. The pain can be moderate to severe, but it will get worse when you move. Talk to your doctor, especially after any bad injury.

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Symptoms Of Breathing Pattern Disorder

Symptoms of a breathing pattern disorder can be complex, variable and involve multi-systemic reactions from the body. Breathlessness is one of the main symptoms of a BPD, especially once any other underlying pathology has been ruled out. If a patient is unable to take a satisfying deep breath, tight chested, ‘air hungry’, sighing, yawning or coughing & throat clearing. Signs and symptoms of a BPD may also include Cardiac palpitations, chest pain, tachycardia, pseudo angina and changes on an ECG. Physiological signs such as atrophy and weakness in the muscles of respiration, hypertrophy of accessory muscles, ‘barrel chest’ or mouth-breathing can also be indicative of a BPD. Symptoms can also include:

• Neurological – Dizziness, faintness, numbness & tingling , blurred vision, headaches, detachment from reality, muddled, lack of concentration, poor memory
• Gastrointestinal – Dysphagia, heartburn, epigastric pain, reflux, burping, bloatedness, air swallowing, IBS
• Muscular – Muscular Cramps, aches & pains, tremor, involuntary contractions, jaw clamping
• Psychological – Anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, depression, tension
• Systemic – General Weakness, exhaustion, fatigue, lethargy, Sleep disturbance, dry mouth.

Chest Pain Under Strain Get It Checked Out

In older white males, we know chest pain may be a sign of heart attack. But we havent gotten that same sort of education with women, Baechler says. Women fear breast cancer more than heart disease, but they are more likely to have heart disease. In fact, heart disease is the No.1 killer of women in America today, causing more deaths than all types of cancer combined.

If you lift something and have chest pain that youve never had before, get it checked out. You should also see your doctor about any new chest pain when you walk upstairs or exert yourself in some way. This is particularly important if the pain goes away after a short period of rest. Women are more likely than men to have atypical symptoms of a heart attack: shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, extreme fatigue, a cold sweat, or pain in the arms, back, neck, or stomach, Baechler says. Get these, and any of the more traditional symptoms, checked out.

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If You Believe You Are Having A Heart Attack Do Not Wait To Get Help

• Take nitroglycerin, if prescribed by your doctor.
• Take aspirin, but only if prescribed by your doctor. Aspirin can interact with other medications and should be taken only when advised by a medical professional.

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What To Do If You Notice Heart Attack Symptoms

If you do suspect you might have heart attack symptoms and some do appear weeks or months before a heart attack dont discount them out of hand or let them linger for too long. Women often think its something else, says Dr. Cho. The sad thing is, women do tend to have more blockages in their heart when they do need to have something done.

In fact, women tend to get heart disease later than men do. Men get in their 50s and 60s, and women get it in their 60s and 70s, says Dr. Cho. Women always get it 10 years later because of the effect of estrogen.The sooner you report a problem, the better chance you have of catching an issue before it becomes a full-blown heart attack. If you experience any of these symptoms, take note and visit your doctor as quickly as possible. Its very important that you not become your own doctor but let somebody else be your doctor, Dr. Cho says.

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Surgical Treatments For Cervical Instability May Chase The Wrong Problem

In medicine, there are universally accepted equations. When pain cannot be controlled using conservative treatments including physical therapy, chiropractic, and pain medications, there has to be a surgical recommendation.

In neck and spine surgery, doctors focus on degenerative disc disease and its treatment, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and cervical decompression surgery to remove whole or part of the cervical vertebrae to allow space on compressed nerves and to fix the instability by fusing vertebral segments together. In the case of C1-C2 instability, these two vertebrae are fused posteriorly to limit their amount of movement. The goal is to limit pressure on the nerves. To be clear again, for some people surgery is the only way. For many others, surgery can be realistically avoided.

When To See Your Doctor

If your shortness of breath is accompanied by fever, chest pain, tightness in the throat, and wheezing, then you could be experiencing angina or a heart attack. These combinations of symptoms require immediate attention.

In general, if you are experiencing shortness of breath for no obvious reason like exercise, or it is on-going and frequent, speak with your doctor right away. Uncovering and treating the underlying cause will be the only way to correct the shortness of breath.

In This Article

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You Feel Pain In The Side Too

Anyone whos had a kidney stone knows theyre quite agonizingand they may cause upper back pain, says Dr. Ghannad. Its unlikely that this is the only symptom youll notice though. You may also feel severe pain in your side and back below your ribs, the Mayo Clinic notes. Discomfort while peeing or red- or brown-hued urine may be other clues. The best advice? If pain is severe and persistent, its a good idea to be evaluated by a physician, says Ghannad.

The Idea That Upper Cervical Spine Instability Impacts Heart Rate Variability And This May Be A Culprit Of Your Symptoms Is Not A New Idea

The idea that upper cervical spine instability impacts heart rate variability and this may be a culprit of your symptoms, is not a new idea. In our 28 years of helping patients with problems related to the cervical spine, we have seen these symptoms many times. Yet medical research is not yet that abundant. In our own peer-reviewed published studies we have been able to document cervical neck ligament damage as a possible cause of low HRV as to when cervical neck ligaments are damaged or weakened by wear and tear damage or injury, they allow the upper cervical instability that can impinge on the cervical nerves. We will be citing this research below. First, we will explore some independent research.

The first two studies, the first being from neurosurgeons, the second from chiropractors, both discuss the benefit of treatment, surgery, or chiropractic care.

In April 2011, in the medical journal Spine, Doctors at the Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in India examined patients with the suspected autonomic nervous system and cervical compressive myelopathy. The researchers noted, there are no studies on compressive myelopathies.

So what does nerve compression do?

• The researchers evaluated 29 adult patients with cervical compressive myelopathy.
• Conventional autonomic function tests and Heart Rate Variability HRV were studied in these patients.
• The same tests were done on 29 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

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An Inability To Do What You Were Able To Do Before

Defining this symptom can be somewhat difficult because its less a universal heart attack sign and more dependent on your individual experiences and baseline energy levels.

Its a significant change in your functional status, is how I would put it, says Dr. Cho. You were able to be on the treadmill 20 minutes, but now you can barely do 10 because you just feel so tired.

Home Remedies For Back Pain And Shortness Of Breath

Resting your back for one to two days and following your doctors recommendations can help your back pain improve. While youll want to rest your back, doing so for more than two days can lead to stiffness, which can work against the healing process.

Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen can help reduce pain.

If youve undergone surgery related to your symptoms, follow your doctors instructions regarding at-home care.

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Hypertension Anxiety Dizziness Blurry Vision Neck Pain Heart Palpitations Irregular Heartbeats Medications Are Not Helping

It is likely that if you are reading this article you may have been prescribed medications for your hypertension and hypotension blood pressure swings and that you and your cardiologist are finding it challenging to get that correct mix of medicines to help you. A paper in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, December 2019 describes how challenging it is for cardiologists to manage this problem.

Afferent baroreflex failure is most often due to damage of the carotid sinus nerve because of neck surgery or radiation. . The clinical picture is characterized by extreme blood pressure lability with severe hypertensive crises, hypotensive episodes, and orthostatic hypotension, making it the most difficult form of hypertension to manage. There is little evidence-based data to guide treatment. Recommendations rely on understanding the underlying pathophysiology, relevant clinical pharmacology, and anecdotal experience. The goal of treatment should be improving quality of life rather than normalization of blood pressure, which is rarely achievable.

How Do You Treat A Stiff Neck

Treating neck stiffness depends on the underlying cause of the problem. In most cases, a stiff neck due to muscle strain or tension usually responds to self-care at home. Other causes may require more intense treatments. Depending on the cause, your doctor may recommend the following:

• Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as corticosteroids

• Muscle relaxants or pain relievers, which may include tricyclic antidepressants

• Physical therapy to improve posture and alignment and strengthen and stretch neck muscles

• Soft neck collar, which you wear for only short periods of time to avoid weakening your neck muscles

Surgery may be an option for certain causes of a stiff neck.

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What Are Some Home Remedies For A Stiff Neck

Most people will experience a stiff neck from time to time. Everyday muscle strain or tension is usually the cause. This type of neck stiffness will most likely resolve on its own with care at home using a stiff neck remedy or two. Self-care for neck stiffness includes:

• Applying ice for the first 48 hours, then heat therapy, such as a heating pad or warm compress

• Learning a stiff neck exercise routine to stretch the neck, including slowly bringing your ear to shoulder, turning your head to the side, rolling your shoulders, and squeezing your shoulder blades

• Massaging the muscles

• Practicing good posture

• Sleeping on your side or back, not sleeping on your stomach, and using a neck pillow to sleep

• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers, including acetaminophen and ibuprofen

Shortness Of Breath And Stiff Neck

• Medical Author: Carol DerSarkissian, MD

Last Editorial Review: 6/15/2020

Your symptoms are possibly caused by a viral or bacterial infection of the layer covering the brain and spinal cord. You will need to be evaluated by a doctor to figure out if this is a mild or serious case, and what type of treament you may need. Its best to give your doctor a call right away so she can help you get the care you need.

While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:

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Medications For Afferent Baroreflex Dysfunction Hypertension/hypotension Why They Do Not Work For Many

Afferent Baroreflex Dysfunction can be caused by many problems. It can be caused by tumor development in the neck, it can be caused by radiation therapy in oncology. It can be caused by neck surgery, it can be caused, Familial dysautonomia it can be caused by any compression on the nerves, arteries, and veins that pass through the neck, such as compression or injury on the carotid sinus nerve, a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve. In this scenario, high blood pressure may be caused by simply turning your head one way or the other and creating compression or pressure on the glossopharyngeal nerve.

What Is Microvascular Angina

Angina is any chest pain that occurs when your heart muscle doesnt get enough blood to meet its work demand, a condition called ischemia.

The most common source of angina is obstructive coronary disease, which happens when one of the hearts arteries is blocked. People with this type of angina might feel chest pain during exercise or exertion if not enough blood is supplied to the working heart muscle.

But according to the American Heart Association, up to 50 percent of women with angina symptoms dont have a blocked artery. In fact, they may not even have chest pain, though they may have other symptoms.

They may feel severely short of breath. They might feel extreme fatigue, which rest doesnt make better. They may have pain with exertion in their back, jaw or arm with no chest pain. They might have nausea and indigestion, says Michos.

These women should be evaluated for microvascular angina. Microvascular angina can occur when the hearts tiniest arteries are not able to supply enough oxygen-rich blood due to spasm or cellular dysfunction.

It can be difficult to diagnose microvascular angina because an angiogram a specialized X-ray of the heart wont show obstruction or blockages in these tiny arteries, and symptoms like nausea and indigestion mimic other illnesses. Often, your doctor will perform a stress test to monitor the hearts function during exercise to make a diagnosis.

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Autonomic Nervous System Regulation And Heart Rate Variability Is This The Answer For Some

In August 2000, Julian Stewart, M.D., Ph.D. of the Department of Pediatrics, The Center for Pediatric Hypotension, New York Medical College wrote in the journal Pediatric research of his work to determine the nature of autonomic and vasomotor changes in adolescent patients with orthostatic tachycardia associated with the chronic fatigue syndrome and the postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome . These are the summary findings:

Heart rate and blood pressure responses before and 3-5 min after head-up tilt in 22 adolescents with POTS and 14 adolescents with CFS, compared with control subjects comprising 10 healthy adolescents and 20 patients with simple faint.

Chronic Neck Pain And Breathing Problems

Chronic neck pain is a frequent musculoskeletal complaint and can lead to adaptive changes in neck region and related structures associated with breathing. Although neck pain is predominantly considered and treated in clinical practice as a neuromusculoskeletal problem, there is a close anatomical connection of the neck region with the thoracic spine which have led some researchers to believe that neck pain may lead to associated changes in thoracic spine and rib cage and consequential changes in breathing function. Lets look into some factors involved with neck pain and breathing problems.

Neck studies have shown that muscle strength and endurance, mobility, head posture and proprioception are all affected in patients with chronic neck pain, whereas abnormal psychological states such as anxiety, depression, kinesiophobia and catastrophizing may also be present in coping with neck pain. It has been recently theorized that all of these can have their own contribution for the development of breathing problems. Changes in neck mobility, head posture and dysfunction of the local and related muscle systems are believed to lead to changes in curves, muscle imbalances and segmental instability which may affect the function of thoracic cage and rib cage mechanics related to breathing dysfunction.

Breathing weakness of patients with chronic neck pain cannot be considered as pathological, but there is an obvious dysfunction of breathing muscles which may need clinical attention.

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