As the weather starts to get colder in Orange County, California, a familiar (if unpopular) feature of the season starts to surge again—respiratory illness. Perhaps you’re spending more time indoors, or you’re starting to mix with more people as holiday gatherings get underway. With familiar germs circulating, it’s no wonder if you find yourself coming down with classic symptoms such as clogged sinuses, a runny nose, and a cough. Often, a cough can persist for weeks, even when the underlying illness has run its course. When this is the case, neck pain and stiffness can crop up as an unexpected and unwelcome additional symptom.

While this symptom can, in rare cases, be a red flag to seek medical attention immediately, it more often has a straightforward explanation. With the right treatment, that neck pain can be alleviated. Here’s what to know about neck pain when you cough, what illnesses might be associated with it, and what you should do.

Why Does My Neck Hurt When I Cough?

The neck contains the cervical spine as well as the muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligaments that support and move your head. When somebody coughs, the muscles of the neck contract forcefully as your body pushes air out of the lungs. The repeated stress of a chronic cough can cause tightness or strain in the neck and shoulder muscles. Coughing can also compress sensitive nerves or exacerbate existing issues with spinal alignment or disc problems. Neck pain can also be increased if the person also has swollen lymph nodes or a sore throat.

When should neck pain in conjunction with a cough be a sign to see a doctor immediately? If it is accompanied by a sudden high fever, a severe headache, nausea and/or vomiting, sensitivity to light, trouble concentrating, and sleepiness. These can be symptoms of meningitis, an infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. While this condition is rare, it should be taken very seriously, as it can cause death if left untreated.

Common Medical Conditions That Can Cause Coughing and Neck Pain

Most likely—and fortunately—the illness behind your neck pain may not even be serious enough for more than a regular visit to your primary care physician. Familiar culprits include:

The common cold:

Colds are viral upper respiratory infections that are highly contagious and cause inflammation of the membranes lining the nose and throat. Symptoms include stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, headache, and occasionally a fever.

Acute bronchitis:

Acute bronchitis, also called a chest cold, is an inflammation of the bronchi (the air passages in the lungs). While this type of short-term infection is usually caused by a virus, it can also be caused by bacteria or environmental factors such as smoke or allergens. Symptoms include cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches.

Sinus infection (sinusitis):

A sinus infection is when fluid builds up in the sinuses and the mucous membranes become inflamed. This can be the result of a bacterial or viral infection or environmental irritants like smoke, dust, or pollen. Symptoms include a stuffy nose, pain or pressure in the face, headache, fever, cough, postnasal drip, and a sore throat.

Asthma:

Those with asthma have hyperreactive airways that constrict, causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Triggers can include cold air and viral illness, increasing the odds of an asthma attack in the winter. Effective management of the condition can include regular medication, rescue inhalers, and avoiding triggers.

If you develop neck pain due to excessive coughing from a cold or other respiratory illness, it may be possible to alleviate it with simple at-home care, such as taking over-the-counter pain relievers and applying ice packs to lessen discomfort and using heat to relax stiff muscles. However, if those measures don’t provide significant or lasting improvement, you shouldn’t suffer needlessly. Divine Spine can help pinpoint the underlying cause of your neck pain and effectively treat it.

Providing Relief from Neck Pain in Orange Hills

When a cough lingers for weeks, you may find neck pain persisting even longer. At Divine Spine, our state-of-the-art chiropractic treatment method can help restore comfort and range of motion in your neck with precise, gentle computerized adjustments. With on-site X-rays, we’re able to determine the underlying cause of painful symptoms on your first visit and get started on an effective, personalized treatment plan immediately. To schedule your consultation at our Orange Hills office, contact us here today.