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Does Cold Weather Affect Cervical Spondylosis?

Cervical spondylosis is a common term for wear and tear related to age and it affects the spinal disks present in the neck. With consistent shrinkage and dehydration of disks, signs related to cervical spondylosis develop, which include bony projections across the bone spurs or bone edges. The problem is common and becomes worse with one’s age.

Approximately 85% of people of 60 years or more suffer from cervical spondylosis. Also, many people do not experience any symptoms because of their condition.

However, when symptoms take place, patients may get benefits from nonsurgical treatment procedures.(1)

Does Cold Weather Affect Cervical Spondylosis?

Winters may affect the neck bones and joints of many people to cause cervical spondylosis. However, with proper exercise, medicines, and other essential steps, patients may manage their problems easily.

With the consistent dip in temperatures during winter months, the condition of cervical spondylosis affects discs, bones, and joints of the patients’ neck and thereby, causes a tough time. If you ignore the problem, it may nag throughout your life.

Cervical spondylosis often takes place in elderly and middle-aged people. However, according to orthopedic doctors, the problem has become common even among youngsters consistently using mobile phones and computers.

Especially, the frequent bad posture of the neck and spine because of mobiles and computers force individuals predisposed to develop the condition quite early during their lives. Indeed, when young people suffer from cervical spondylosis, their condition becomes worse during winter months and weather fluctuations.

Doctors recommend never taking things lightly as overlooking the signs and symptoms may cause an adverse effect in the entire spinal cord and manifests in a paralysis. On the other side, you may manage the problem by fomentation, regular exercise, and medications.

However, during winter months, the condition of cervical spondylosis becomes worse because of reduced physical activities because of short hours of days, less consumption of water, and cold weather, all of which cause stiffness of your neck muscles.

Doctors have advised that patients should never deteriorate their condition excessively to avoid the involvement of the entire spinal cord and in turn, to avoid the paralytic condition. Moreover, with an increase in age, cervical discs suffer distortion and thereby, cause the disorder. In this case, one should take steps in advance to manage the condition of cervical spondylosis.

On the other side, if you are suffering from spondylosis in its severe form, you should never go to perform any type of neck exercise directly. Instead, you should discuss with your orthopedic doctor to get recommendations on easing your condition with medicines and fomentation.(3)

Symptoms Of Cervical Spondylosis

Pain across the shoulder blade is a common symptom associated with cervical spondylosis. A few people also complain of pain across the arm and in their fingers. The pain may increase and becomes worse when a person sits, stands, coughs, sneezes, and tilts the neck in a backward direction.

Furthermore, a few patients experience muscle weakness related to cervical spondylosis and the respective symptom makes lifting of arms difficult and prevents grasping objects firmly. Other than this, cervical spondylosis patients experience a few of the additional signs and symptoms-

  • Stiffness in the neck, which becomes worse
  • Headaches, which mainly take place in the back area of one’s head
  • Numbness or tingling, which mainly affects the arms and shoulders, even though it may take place in the legs

Along with this, you may experience two less frequently occurring symptoms i.e. loss of bowel and/or bladder control and loss of physical balance. However, both of these symptoms need medical attention immediately.(2)

Conclusion

Winters with cold weather and frequent weather fluctuations have prime roles to make the condition of cervical spondylosis in both old age and young patients. However, irrespective of the age and reason behind the condition, one should take steps at the initial stage itself and involve in certain exercises as well as fomentation methods to manage their condition. In contrast, if a person has cervical spondylosis in its severe form, he/she should consult the doctor first before starting any specific type of neck or spine exercise.

References:

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Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:May 31, 2020

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