I don't want to be a pain in the neck ... but I'm betting a lot of you already have that condition, since it's often the result of talking on the cell phone, working on a computer, or just sitting for too long.
Around 25% of people spend 70% of their waking hours sitting down and more than five hours daily on the cell phone. And believe it or not, by age 80, the average adult will have spent around 17 years of his or her life using the Internet.
A new study in the journal BMC Public Health reveals that mobile phone use is the riskiest activity, "increasing the likelihood of neck pain by 82%." Regular computer use increased the risk by 23%.
Once you get neck pain, the Cleveland Clinic suggests using ice for the first 48 to 72 hours, then using heat after that; taking over-the-counter pain relievers; and getting a gentle massage.
You can also do stretches such as rolling your shoulders back and forth 10 times, squeezing your shoulder blades together 10 times, and bringing your ear to your shoulder 10 times on each side.
It's also important to stop curving your neck and shoulders forward when using the computer and phone.
The Clinic concludes that if trying to ease the pain yourself doesn't do the trick, it's time to "see your doctor to figure out if there's an underlying issue or if there's some behavior you need to change."