Can cracking your neck cause a stroke? Experts say yes

It’s not uncommon to experience stiffness, pain and discomfort in your neck. According to experts, it can be due to poor sleeping posture, a pulled muscle or even an injury. While you may want to get relief from a quick neck crack, experts advise against it.

Also known as neck manipulation, cracking is a high-speed twisting or turning motion that typically causes a popping or clicking sound in the area that helps treat pain. However, while it can be performed at home or clinically by a massage therapist, chiropractor or osteopath, doing it yourself can be dangerous.

Additionally, neck cracking can lead to stroke due to a condition called cervical artery dissection, more commonly called vertebral artery dissection.

Why can cracking your neck cause a stroke?

According to experts, if you crack your neck just by turning your head every now and then, you may not be doing yourself any harm. However, if you crack your neck suddenly, it can have deadly repercussions.

Rarely, a stroke occurs during a neck fracture when an artery in the area tears, and when this happens, blood begins to leak into the wall of the torn blood vessel, between the thin layers that make up the blood vessel wall. As the blood leaks, the space within the blood vessel through which blood normally flows becomes narrowed or even completely blocked, and eventually a blood clot forms from the torn artery.

Doctors say it blocks the artery, which reduces or cuts off blood flow to an area of ​​the brain that normally receives blood and oxygen, causing a stroke. A stroke due to vertebral artery dissection from neck manipulation can cause paralysis, neck pain or a severe headache.

Also, according to experts, another reason for the cracking sound can be the tearing of the ligaments and tendons that move over the joints or against each other. Ligaments connect the bones to each other and tendons connect the muscles to each other. Sometimes, if the ligaments, muscles or tendons that support the neck are too tight or too loose, they will make this cracking sound when you force the tendons, muscles or ligaments to rub against the bones.

Who is more likely to have a stroke from a neck crack?

Doctors say the risk of spontaneous vertebral artery dissection and stroke without spinal manipulation may be higher in people who have:

According to doctors, if you have been suffering from neck pain or stiffness, you may want to consider the following self-care options:

Stretching

Experts suggest doing some gentle stretches to help relieve neck pain and discomfort.

Hot and cold therapy

Applying ice or cold compresses to the affected area helps reduce pain and inflammation. Similarly, using a heating pad is also effective as it stimulates blood circulation.

Massage

A gentle massage to the affected area helps relieve pain and tension in the neck.

Painkillers

Your doctor may prescribe an over-the-counter pain reliever that also helps reduce inflammation.