No, I'm not talking about those telemarketers that always seem to call when you sit down to dinner with your family or the smoke alarm that always goes off when you burn your toast.

I'm talking about real neck pain... the kind that makes you reach for the ice bag or wish your "honey" would give you a neck massage.

Do you suffer from real neck pain? If you do, you're not alone. Nearly 75 percent of American adults will suffer from neck pain at some point in their lives. And, looking at our anatomy, it's no wonder so may of us do. Though having your head perched on top of your spine gives you a great view of your world, the set-up is rather like propping a bowling ball atop a tower of blocks.

The price? Our necks are prone to injury of the muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. But by paying attention to our posture, doing regular stretching and strengthening exercises, and above all, visiting our chiropractor, we can help keep our necks pain-free.

What causes these neck pains? Many things can attribute to pain in our neck including poor posture during normal, everyday activities such as watching TV, using a computer, reading a book, or talking on the phone. Neck pain ranges from mild (annoying and distracting) to severe (incapacitating).

TV watching can be particularly bad for the neck if you're lying on a couch or bed, with your head propped at an awkward angle for a prolonged period of time. Holding the phone between the jaw and shoulder (rather than in your hand), reading at a desk or table with you head hung over a book, or working with a computer monitor below eye level can also be particularly stressful for the neck.

By resting and making efforts not to repeat the offending stresses on the neck, minor neck pain usually disappears on its own within a day or so.

So you wonder how a chiropractor can help. Neck pain that won't go away or keeps coming back can signal a more serious underlying problem. Subluxations or joint restrictions; injuries such as whiplash; diseases like osteoarthritis, meningitis and tumors; congenital malformation; and degeneration (such as that in arthritis) require more than rest.

With several of the situations just mentioned, a chiropractor can certainly help. He or she can determine whether the cause of your neck pain is minor and easily treatable or more serious and requires more intensive treatment.

To be more certain as to the cause of the neck pain, a chiropractor would need to check your spine and decide on a course of action to treat the cause of the pain. Instead of prescribing medication to treat the symptom, pain, the chiropractic profession believes it's necessary to get to the cause of the problem first-to find out why the pain is present instead of simply treating that pain.

If a subluxation is present in your spine, pain is often present. A subluxation is a term used in the field of chiropractic that describes a situation where a bone, or multiple bones, of your spine will move out of position to compensate for instability or unequal weight distribution. When a bone moves out of place, it puts pressure on the vital nerves that exit between the bones and reduces their ability to function. This nerve function is absolutely vital in the communication of your brain and body. Without proper nervous system function, you could become ill or die.

So what happens when your nervous system cannot transmit all of these vital messages? The answer is that they get lost and are unable to get to their intended target. This can cause a whole laundry list of problems that can hamper your ability to be happy and healthy.

Prevention is the key to avoid more neck pain and the need for treatment in the first place. By paying close attention to your posture and improving your posture is a vital first step. Avoid slouching when watching TV and choose to sit upright, in a posture-supporting chair when possible.

When studying or reading, avoid putting the book on a flat surface. Instead, consider using a book prop. If your job requires a lot of phone use, consider using a headset. And, if you notice your computer monitor is below eye level, elevate it by placing it on top of a shelf.

Above all, seek chiropractic care to have your spine evaluated to be certain that your nervous system is working at its maximum potential. Chiropractors specialize in the neuromusculoskeletal system and are some of the most well-trained healthcare professionals to consult about neck pain.

If you have questions concerning chiropractic and how it can help you to be your healthiest ever, give us a call at (208) 667-7434. You can also find us on the Web at www.CDAHealth.com.