Recent Blog Articles

New Harvard tool helps fact-check cancer claims

Hand pain from arthritis? This may help

Polio: What parents need to know now

Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression: When and where is it safe?

Have lupus? What to know about birth control

Screening at home for memory loss: Should you try it?

Travel tummy troubles: Here’s how to prevent or soothe them

Easy, delicious summer veggie meals will help stretch your food budget

Tracking viruses: The best clues may be in the sewer

Promising therapy if PSA rises after prostate cancer surgery
Pain
Can changing my sleep habits help with neck pain?
Ask the doctors
Q. I often wake up with a sore neck in the morning. What can I do to prevent this?
A. Poor sleep habits can cause neck pain or make it worse. Simple changes can make it less likely that you will wake up in pain in the morning.
First: if you sleep on your stomach, try a new sleep position. Stomach sleeping forces the head to one side and puts pressure on your neck. Experts say that sleeping on your back or your side puts less strain on your neck.
Second: make sure you've got a good pillow. Skip pillows that are stiff or too thick, which can put your neck into an uncomfortable position. Ideally you should find a pillow that is soft and on the flatter side. You might want to try out memory foam or down options, which mold to the shape of your head and neck.
Also, focus on establishing good sleep habits. There is some evidence that it's not just sleep position but also sleep quality that is linked to neck pain. One study, for example, found that people who experienced sleep problems were more likely to report chronic musculoskeletal pain, including neck pain, than those who slept soundly through the night. Practices such as sleeping in a cool, dark room and going to bed and waking at the same time each day can help you get a better night's rest.
— by Hope Ricciotti, M.D., and Toni Golen, M.D.
Editors in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Free Healthbeat Signup
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!