Beyond Neck Pain: How Your Smartphone Is Affecting Your Heart, Eyes, and Nervous System
Your smartphone has become essential 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 Tonawanda, Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation sees an epidemic of tech-related issues, and the latest research reveals 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
Here's something that might catch you off guard: that forward head posture we're always talking about isn't just about neck pain. New studies show it's directly affecting your autonomic nervous system—the part managing your heart rate, blood pressure, and stress response. (1) When your head moved forward into "text neck" position, it sets up compression in your upper cervical spine, interfering with proper nerve signaling and activating your sympathetic nervous system. Your body remains in fight-or-flight mode, raising 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 describing "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 compress blood vessels and nerves supplying your eyes. Studies found that patients with chronic, unexplained visual symptoms often show significant cervical spine issues and compressed jugular veins, affecting drainage from the brain and eyes.
WHY DIFFICULT TASKS MAKE EVERYTHING WORSE
Studies tracking neck angles revealed that difficult phone tasks cause you to hunch over even more. (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 extreme flexion angles—a downward spiral affecting 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 triggering neck pain. The lifestyle factors surrounding heavy phone use—disrupted sleep and sedentary behavior—may cause even more musculoskeletal damage.
CONTACT Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation FOR YOUR CHIROPRACTIC ACTION PLAN
This research reinforces our healthcare approach at Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation. 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, especially when typing, and take breaks often.
Your nervous system controls everything. When smartphone habits impede your spinal health, the effects branch out. Keeping proper spinal alignment via regular chiropractic care may well safeguard your heart, eyes, sleep, and overall nervous system function for the long term.
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.
Make your Tonawanda chiropractic appointment soon.
