The cervical spine is the "bridge of life" that connects the head and torso, carrying the responsibility of supporting the head, protecting nerves and blood vessels. However, bad habits such as looking down at their phones for long periods of time and sitting for long periods of time in the office have led to many people suffering from cervical spondylosis. Although cervical spondylosis is not an incurable disease, it is not a minor ailment that can be cured with just a few days of rest. Improper treatment can seriously affect the quality of life. Only through scientific prevention, timely identification, and standardized treatment can we safeguard this' bridge of life '. Cervical spondylosis is a chronic disease caused by long-term strain on the cervical spine, intervertebral disc degeneration, bone hyperplasia, or ligament thickening, resulting in compression of the spinal cord, nerve roots, or blood vessels, leading to a series of symptoms. Being too diligent or too lazy can easily lead to cervical spondylosis. Being too diligent "often refers to constantly doing household chores such as scrubbing, lifting weights too vigorously, and carrying heavy objects; 'Too lazy' is common among sedentary individuals, as well as those who are addicted to their phones or computers and spend long periods of time lounging on the sofa watching TV shows. Nowadays, cervical spondylosis is no longer a "patent" for the elderly, with over 40% of young cervical spondylosis patients aged 20-30 in outpatient clinics. There was once a 19-year-old cervical spine surgery patient who suffered from unstable walking gait due to long-term playing mobile games with his head down, ultimately resulting in spinal cord compression and residual functional impairment after surgery. Cervical spondylosis is like boiling a frog in warm water. By the time it feels' hot ', the damage is often irreversible. Early symptoms of cervical spondylosis are often mistaken for "sleeping on a pillow" and overlooked, so it is important to detect subtle abnormalities early, diagnose and treat them promptly. Early symptoms of cervical spondylosis are often myofascial inflammation or muscle strain, which may result in recurrent neck and shoulder pain, pillowing, and dizziness. If not intervened in a timely manner, it will gradually develop into nerve root damage. Finger numbness and numbness, arm pain, decreased grip strength, and electric current passing through the arm when turning the head are all symptoms of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Further development of the condition may lead to spinal cord damage and become cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The symptoms of this type of cervical spondylosis are more severe, such as difficulty in fastening buttons or using chopsticks, unsightly handwriting, easy injury to oneself when cutting vegetables, easy falling off when holding bowls or cups, and difficulty in opening doors or bottle caps with keys; Symptoms such as feeling like stepping on cotton while walking and feeling different temperatures on both sides when washing feet may occur. Suffering from cervical spondylotic myelopathy, even with minor trauma, can lead to serious consequences and even paralysis. Therefore, when suspected symptoms of cervical spondylosis are detected, it is advisable to go to the orthopedics department as soon as possible for cervical spine radiography or even MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) examination. How to prevent and treat cervical spondylosis? In fact, reducing the burden on the cervical spine mainly relies on self-care, followed by the assistance of a doctor. Share 3 key tips for cervical spine protection: good posture. Keep your chest straight and head up. Use ergonomic seats, with the computer screen level with the eyes and the phone raised to eye level; When driving, the headrest supports the back of the neck; Adjust the height of the pillow while sleeping to avoid damaging the cervical spine. Frequent activities. Turn your neck every half hour and get up and move around for an hour. Running, jumping, flying kites, and other activities are beneficial for the cervical spine. Exercise the strength of the neck and back muscles. The first choice is "Xiaoyanfei" or breaststroke, which can exercise both neck and waist muscle strength. If possible, breaststroke once or twice a week, with one 600 meter stroke. Xiaoyanfei "is simple and easy to practice in bed in the morning or evening. It should be noted that 'Xiaoyanfei' is a strength exercise, not a physical exercise. When doing movements, do not tilt too high, as it may actually damage the lumbar spine. Head and feet should be 5 centimeters above the ground, with no discomfort as the standard. Hold on for 5 seconds each time, 60 times a day in the morning and evening; Remember to exercise at an intensity that does not worsen the symptoms of pain. For elderly people, it is sufficient to lift it up by 1 centimeter. You can also take some time to do "head hand confrontation training", which involves crossing your hands to support the back of your head and performing 10 sets of head hand confrontation movements, each lasting 5 seconds. Is cervical spondylosis treated conservatively or surgically? The vast majority of cervical spondylosis patients can alleviate their condition through conservative treatment. Conservative treatment includes medication and physical therapy. Drug therapy can use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain and neurotrophic agents for limb numbness; Physical therapy includes gentle massage, cervical traction under the guidance of professional doctors, Chinese medicine acupuncture and moxibustion, Chinese medicine blood circulation, etc. When cervical spondylosis develops to a certain stage, surgical intervention is required, such as minimally invasive treatment including nerve root block and radiofrequency ablation. For cervical spondylotic myelopathy, surgical treatment is the preferred option. Anterior cervical surgery is suitable for 1-2 levels of intervertebral disc herniation, while posterior cervical surgery is suitable for multi level intervertebral disc herniation and developmental spinal stenosis. If symptoms of cervical spondylotic myelopathy such as decreased muscle strength and unstable gait have already appeared, it indicates that the cervical spondylosis is very serious and surgery must be performed as soon as possible to avoid lifelong disability. (New Society)