Beyond Neck Pain: How Your Smartphone Is Affecting Your Heart, Eyes, and Nervous System
If you're reading this, chances are you've already felt some discomfort from your smartphone—maybe tension in your neck, headaches, or that nagging upper back pain. As your local chiropractor in Fort Wayne, Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc sees an awful lot of tech-related issues, and the latest research reveals the problem runs deeper than you might think. It's not always "just' neck pain. Our gentle spinal manipulation treatment can help!
YOUR SPINE AFFECTS YOUR HEART
You might be amazed to learn that 'text neck' is doing more damage than causing neck pain alone. Recent studies show it's directly impacting your autonomic nervous system—the part controlling your heart rate, blood pressure, and stress response. (1) When your head shifts forward into "text neck" position, it creates compression in your upper cervical spine, interfering with proper nerve signaling and activating 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. Weird 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 ranging from blurry vision, eye pain, dry eyes, to even contributing 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
When researchers measured how people hold their phones, they discovered that challenging tasks lead to worse posture. (3) Your neck bends over 30 degrees while typing on your phone, versus roughly 26 degrees when you're just watching content. People who use phones more heavily develop even more intense flexion angles—a downward spiral impacting spinal alignment with every text.
THE REAL RISK FACTORS MIGHT SURPRISE YOU
Surprisingly, a year-long study revealed that how much you bend your neck while using your phone wasn't the main cause of neck pain. (4) Instead, poor sleep quality and lack of physical activity were the real culprits instigating neck pain. The lifestyle factors surrounding heavy phone use—disrupted sleep and sedentary behavior—may cause even more musculoskeletal damage.
CONTACT Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc FOR YOUR CHIROPRACTIC ACTION PLAN
This research reinforces our healthcare approach at Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc. Regular chiropractic adjustments uphold 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 frequent breaks.
Your nervous system controls everything. When smartphone habits impede your spinal health, the effects travel. Working to keep proper spinal alignment with regular chiropractic care may well protect 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 describes 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 Fort Wayne chiropractic appointment soon.
