Beyond Neck Pain: How Your Smartphone Is Affecting Your Heart, Eyes, and Nervous System
If you're reading this, chances are you've already experienced some discomfort from your smartphone—maybe tension in your neck, headaches, or that nagging upper back pain. As your local chiropractor in Oxford, Satterwhite Chiropractic sees an awful lot of tech-related issues, and the latest research reveals the problem 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 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 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. Weird to think about, but you are not the only one feeling these effects!
THE SPINE-EYE CONNECTION YOU NEED TO KNOW
Researchers are now documenting "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
When researchers measured how people hold their phones, they discovered that challenging tasks lead to worse posture. (3) Typing creates neck flexion angles exceeding 30 degrees while watching videos averages around 26 degrees. 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
Surprisingly, a year-long study revealed 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 instigating neck pain. The lifestyle factors around heavy phone use—disrupted sleep and sedentary behavior—may instigate even more musculoskeletal damage.
CONTACT Satterwhite Chiropractic FOR YOUR CHIROPRACTIC ACTION PLAN
This research reinforces our healthcare approach at Satterwhite Chiropractic. 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 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 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 Oxford chiropractic appointment soon.
