Beyond Neck Pain: How Your Smartphone Is Affecting Your Heart, Eyes, and Nervous System
Your smartphone has become central to daily life, but the physical toll it's taking on your body most likely goes far beyond the occasional stiff neck. As your local chiropractor in Groton, Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office sees an epidemic of tech-related issues, and the latest research shows the issue runs deeper than you may imagine. It's not always "just' neck pain. Our gentle spinal manipulation treatment can help!
YOUR SPINE AFFECTS YOUR HEART
You might be shocked to learn that 'text neck' is doing more damage than causing neck pain alone. Recent studies show it's directly affecting your autonomic nervous system—the part controlling your heart rate, blood pressure, and stress response. (1) When your head moved forward into "text neck" position, it creates compression in your upper cervical spine, hampering proper nerve signaling and triggering your sympathetic nervous system. Your body stays in fight-or-flight mode, increasing heart rate and blood pressure—all from looking down at your phone. Crazy to think about, but you are not alone!
THE SPINE-EYE CONNECTION YOU NEED TO KNOW
Researchers are now noting "cervical oculopathy"—where neck misalignments trigger vision problems including blurry vision, eye pain, dry eyes, and even contributing to conditions like glaucoma. (2) When your cervical spine is misaligned, it can interfere with the blood supply and nerve pathways reaching your eyes. Studies found that patients with chronic, unexplained visual symptoms often present with significant cervical spine issues and compressed jugular veins, impairing drainage from the brain and eyes.
WHY DIFFICULT TASKS MAKE EVERYTHING WORSE
Scientists measuring neck positioning found a clear pattern: complex activities like typing force your head further forward. (3) Typing forces your neck forward more than 30 degrees, compared to about 26 degrees when watching videos. People who use phones more heavily develop even more extreme flexion angles—a downward spiral impacting spinal alignment with every text.
THE REAL RISK FACTORS MIGHT SURPRISE YOU
Surprisingly, a year-long study showed that how much you bend your neck while using your phone wasn't the chief cause of neck pain. (4) Instead, poor sleep quality and lack of physical activity were the real culprits triggering neck pain. The lifestyle factors that come with heavy phone use—disrupted sleep and sedentary behavior—may instigate even more musculoskeletal damage.
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office FOR YOUR CHIROPRACTIC ACTION PLAN
This research reinforces our healthcare approach at Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office. Regular chiropractic adjustments maintain proper cervical alignment and nervous system function, but you also need good sleep and physical activity. When using your phone, bring it closer to eye level, particularly when typing, and take breaks often.
Your nervous system controls everything. When smartphone habits impede your spinal health, the effects branch out. Working to keep proper spinal alignment with regular chiropractic care may well safeguard your heart, eyes, sleep, and overall nervous system function for the long haul.
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he talks about the interaction of the nervous system and vagus nerve and the role The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management may have for chiropractic patients seeking pain relief.
Schedule your Groton chiropractic appointment soon.
