When it comes to transportation hubs, I believe no one is a stranger to them. But to ask you where the hub of the human body, you can answer it? In fact, whether you are staring at the computer screen, or looking down at the phone, you will use this part, yes, it is the neck. This seemingly simple part of the mouth and stomach, nose and lungs, brain and spine, as well as between the brain and heart, establishing a variety of vital “life connection”, is the busiest “hub” in the human body. How exactly does the neck affect one’s health? Like breathing is important “Many people think a twist is a small thing, but for the neck, it’s a big deal.” From the back of the head to the collarbone, the neck is the territory of the neck. The neck has cervical vertebrae, lymph nodes, trachea, esophagus, arteries and densely distributed nerves, and is not the “simple structure” many people think it is. “The food the body needs to survive and the air it breathes all enter the body through the neck. The instructions from the brain are also transmitted to the limbs through the neck. The neck is the link between the head and the body, once cut, life will cease to exist.” The neck is so important, yet it is easy to be overlooked. “Just like breathing, people don’t pay special attention to it on a regular basis, and only feel important when something goes wrong.” . According to a survey conducted by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, 70% of white-collar workers suffer from different degrees of “office disease”, of which there are two related to the neck. Laryngitis ranks among the top five “office diseases”, the other is the growing number of cervical spondylosis. Nearly 300 cervical spine cases from the country survey statistics also found that young people under 40 years of age accounted for 48.1% of the cervical spine disease population. Whole body health “trunk” The neck is the thinnest part of the trunk, supporting the most important head of the human body, more attention needs to be paid. Eighty percent of the blood supply to the brain is transported by the neck. The heart delivers oxygen and blood to the brain mainly through four tubes, namely a pair of carotid arteries and a pair of vertebral arteries. The carotid artery provides more than 80% of the blood supply to the brain tissue, and one can touch its beating about 5 cm on either side of the protruding part of the throat. The lymph in the neck is the body’s first line of defense. Dong Min, deputy director of the Department of Hematology at the Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, told reporters, “The primary channels for viral and bacterial invasion are the respiratory tract and the oral cavity. When the infected lymphatic fluid flows back, the first stop is the neck, so the lymph nodes on the neck are also the most likely to swell, and only then to the armpits and groin.” The throat is the “main valve” of the respiratory tract. People often use the term “pharyngeal fortress” to describe the important geographical location, as the front of the neck important organs, the throat bears the important function of swallowing food and pronunciation, it is also the body’s inhalation of oxygen must go through the road, to keep the throat open and healthy is vital. The seven bones of the cervical spine support the head. The cervical spine, which consists of only seven bones, forms a heavy cross with the shoulders and supports the head, which is not light in weight. If the cervical spine is under tension for a long time, it is easy to produce chronic strain and deformation, and once the nerves are compressed, it will lead to pain and stiffness in the shoulders and upper limbs and restricted movement. Cervical spine disease has become one of the most common diseases that modern people suffer from. The neck is covered with various nerves. 8 pairs of spinal nerves govern the body’s movement and sensation; 4 pairs of brain nerves are responsible for adjusting blood pressure, breathing and controlling gastrointestinal motility; sympathetic nerves can make people’s heart beat faster, limb vasoconstriction, making people sweat, etc.; parasympathetic excitement can make people’s heart beat slower and weaker. The neck is the “signal light” of other diseases. The annual meeting of the American Professional Sleep Association released a study showing that people with thick necks are prone to sleep apnea. The MRC Clinical Science Center and the Framingham Heart Institute surveyed 3,300 volunteers with an average age of 51 years and noted that the thicker the neck, the higher the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. From a TCM perspective, the neck is also the point of penetration of the meridians throughout the body. The body’s five important meridians, including the Governor’s meridian, the bladder meridian, the small intestine meridian, the gall bladder meridian and the Sanjiao meridian, all pass through the back of the neck and shoulders. If the meridians are not open, their main functions will be affected. Head up and chest up is the most protective neck “Nowadays, children as young as five or six years old are skilled in using computers, so the concern for neck health should be advanced.” Once the following four conditions occur in the neck, you must be more careful. 1. a hard lump in the neck. If the neck suddenly becomes thicker or a rapidly growing hard lump appears, it is best to seek prompt medical attention; 2. Old falls. Relaxing the neck muscles can improve the balance problem of the body. Observing whether the patient walks smoothly can also reveal whether his or her cervical spine functions normally; 3. Hand numbness, dizziness and headache may be due to cervical compression of the cervical ligament heel nerve; 4. “Panic, shortness of breath, tinnitus, insomnia and chest tightness may all be problems of the cervical spine. Some diseases related to internal organs, which are also caused by the cervical spine, are clinically common.” Therefore, to protect your neck, you cannot wait until something goes wrong, but should start with the simplest posture. Several simple ways to protect the neck. Salt cloth bags work well. Sew a long pocket, put large grains of salt in it, seal it and put it in the microwave for a few minutes. Pillow under your neck every day when you sleep, to feel warm, can relieve neck discomfort. Fly more kites and swim more. Keeping your head down or leaning forward for too long can cause neck pain. Kite flying and swimming are good ways to relieve neck pressure. Stand with your head up and chest out. Some people are used to hunching when standing and stretching their necks forward, which will increase the force on the neck. The small action of raising the head and chest can reduce the burden on the neck. Wear a good neck pillow when sitting for a long time. Comfortable and supportive neck pillow, can make sedentary people’s neck right posture, have the right curve. But the neck pillow only auxiliary role, not as a means of treatment. Only lying flat, can rest completely. The neck wants to rest completely can only lie flat, people who are used to lying on their backs, before going to bed can be flattened in the middle of the pillow, the position of the neck to be padded; pillow height and the height of their fist the same. When lying on the side, the pillow height and a fist and a half the same height, to 10-15 cm is appropriate.