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 Manahawkin, Manahawkin Chiropractic Center sees an awful lot 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
That slouched position over your phone? It's silently affecting systems throughout your body in ways you wouldn't expect. New 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 moved forward into "text neck" position, it sets up compression in your upper cervical spine, hampering proper nerve signaling and triggering 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 noting "cervical oculopathy"—where neck misalignments cause 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 compress blood vessels and nerves supplying 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
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 utilize 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
The research findings may shock you: neck angle during phone use turned out not to be the biggest risk factor for pain. (4) Instead, poor sleep quality and lack of physical activity were the real culprits instigating neck pain. The lifestyle factors that come with heavy phone use—disrupted sleep and sedentary behavior—may instigate even more musculoskeletal damage.
CONTACT Manahawkin Chiropractic Center FOR YOUR CHIROPRACTIC ACTION PLAN
This research reinforces our healthcare approach at Manahawkin Chiropractic Center. Regular chiropractic adjustments uphold proper cervical alignment and nervous system function, but you also need quality 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 compromise your spinal health, the effects travel. Keeping proper spinal alignment via 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 Manahawkin chiropractic appointment today.
