A medical professional has raised concerns about the potential risks associated with cracking your neck.
Many people do this to alleviate tension or as part of a stretching routine.
Imagine sitting at your desk, pushing back your chair, stretching from your arms down to your toes, and hearing that satisfying ‘clack’ as the joints in your neck release.
The noise produced when you crack a joint, such as a knuckle or knee, is due to gases dissolved in the synovial fluid of the joint.
When these gas bubbles collapse, it results in the familiar popping sound.
While the sensation of cracking a joint can be gratifying, there is a potential hazard when it comes to cracking your neck, which has been highlighted by a doctor.
A video has explored possible health risks, including the possibility of tearing a blood vessel when cracking your neck.
Nevertheless, Dr. Michael Gartner pointed out that while this risk exists in theory, it would require a substantial amount of force.
The doctor indicated that this is not a typical risk associated with the amount of force usually applied when cracking your neck, but it is ‘possible’.
There is, however, another potential issue that the doctor noted could pose a danger.
If there is damage to the interior of your blood vessels, it could lead to the formation of a blood clot.
Blood clots are hazardous if they dislodge and travel through the body.
While they might not obstruct blood flow in a major artery, they can indeed block one of the smaller vessels.
If such a blockage occurs in a critical area like the lungs or brain, it becomes life-threatening.
Dr. Gartner elaborated: “Any blood clot in the major artery going to the head can break off and cause a stroke.”
“A stroke is essentially when a blood clot dislodges and blocks smaller arteries. As the arteries narrow in the brain, that region may not receive sufficient oxygen.”
In the event of a stroke, part of the brain is deprived of oxygen, leading to tissue damage.
This can result in long-lasting brain damage, impacting mobility, speech, and memory.
Unfortunately, a severe stroke can be fatal.
In 2023, Ryan MacCredie, a 44-year-old teacher from Mansfield, Ohio, experienced a stroke after cracking his neck.
After awakening in the hospital five days later, he found he was unable to walk or talk, although he gradually recovered, according to ABC 5.
In 2019, 28-year-old Josh Hader from Oklahoma suffered a major stroke after popping his neck during stretches.
That same year, Natalie Kunicki from London, UK, stretched her neck and collapsed 15 minutes later. Medical professionals informed her that she’d torn the vertebral artery in her neck, resulting in a blood clot and subsequent stroke.
Take care and be cautious.