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Cervical spondylosis, also known as spondylosis, is a condition in which the spine is compressed and inclined to move. Neck) It is a condition of dysfunction in the cervical spine bone system as a result of exposure to many different causes. Hence, today we will learn about what is cervical spondylosis? What are the most important causes that lead to its occurrence? And when is it necessary to undergo a medical examination?
What is cervical spondylosis?
What is cervical spondylosis?
Cervical spondylosis is a chronic disease that develops slowly, but once it occurs, the damage caused by it becomes very difficult to treat. Therefore, we must clearly understand this disease in order to try to prevent it as much as possible.
It is also worth noting that cervical spondylosis is one of the common diseases in society, which affects all age groups, and is not limited to the elderly only. For example, this disease accompanies young people who often work in offices, and are in a state of stability or have to bend a lot.
In addition, this disease is very common among people who have to do a lot of movements that affect the head and neck area, and thus this causes many difficulties in daily life. The matter here includes both men and women equally.
What are the causes of cervical spondylosis?
Cervical spondylosis occurs due to a variety of causes, which may include the following:
First: The advancement of individuals in age
Individuals aging
With the stages of aging, a state of gradual erosion of the structure of the spine will occur, which will cause degeneration of the cervical spine, and then the pathological condition will appear as follows:
– Dry tablets: For clarification, the discs act as cushions between the vertebrae of the spine, and upon reaching the age of 40, most of the spinal discs begin to dry out and contract. It is worth noting that when the discs become smaller in size, a state of bone contact between the vertebrae will occur.
– Slipped disc: This condition occurs due to the appearance of some cracks on the outer surface of the spinal discs, which causes the nucleus pulposus to pass through these cracks, and sometimes pressure is placed on the spinal cord and nerve roots.
– Bone spurs: When disc degeneration occurs, it can cause bone to proliferate to support the spine, and then bony protrusions are formed that can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots.
– Ligament stiffness: Ligaments are fibrous structures that connect bones together, and with advanced age, ligament stiffness can occur, making the neck appear less flexible.
Second: Repetitive activities and wrong positions
Repetitive activities and wrong positions
As we mentioned before, cervical spondylosis does not only affect the elderly, but it also extends to young people who often work in offices and sit in a stable state for long periods, such as working in front of a computer screen, sitting in a twisted state, and sleeping on a table.
It also extends to those who have to bend a lot, bend their head, tilt their neck a lot, carry heavy objects on the head, back and neck area, and do a number of incorrect movements.
Third: Unhealthy nutrition
Unhealthy nutrition
Many of us make mistakes when following some unhealthy eating patterns, as this is clear from not eating all the foods that contain healthy nutrients for the body, such as calcium, potassium, iron, and vitamins.
In addition to practicing some bad habits such as smoking cigarettes and tobacco products, drinking alcoholic beverages, and eating a lot of sweets, sugars, fried foods, and soft drinks, the vertebrae easily become fragile and weak.
Fourth: Exposure to some types of injuries
Exposure to some types of injuries
Things are not always safe, as neck injuries can occur due to work accidents, traffic accidents, and sports injuries.
Therefore, when exposed to such cases, the matter must be dealt with with more seriousness and care, and the nearest medical facility must be immediately visited, so that we can avoid any serious complications that cause suffering and severe pain later on.
When does cervical spondylosis require medical examination?
When does cervical spondylosis require medical examination?
In most cases of cervical spondylosis, it may initially appear asymptomatic, and then the disease may appear in the form of pain and stiffness in the neck. It is worth noting that in some cases it may lead to narrowing of the spinal canal or compression of the spinal cord, which causes patients to suffer from a number of symptoms such as:
- Tingling, numbness, or weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet.
- Limited mobility and difficulty walking.
- Loss of control of bowel movements.
Therefore, in order to avoid serious complications, patients should be examined immediately if they experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms.
