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 past the occasional stiff neck. As your local chiropractor in Richmond, Johnson 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 amazed to learn that 'text neck' is doing more damage than causing neck pain alone. 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 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 remains 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 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 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
Research measuring actual neck angles during smartphone use found that complex tasks worsen your posture. (3) Typing forces your neck forward more than 30 degrees, compared to about 26 degrees when watching videos. People who utilize phones more heavily develop even more intense flexion angles—a downward spiral affecting spinal alignment with every text.
THE REAL RISK FACTORS MIGHT SURPRISE YOU
Here's the twist: a year-long study discovered that cervical flexion angle during smartphone use wasn't the main predictor 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 cause even more musculoskeletal damage.
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic FOR YOUR CHIROPRACTIC ACTION PLAN
This research reinforces our healthcare approach at Johnson 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 breaks often.
Your nervous system controls everything. When smartphone habits impede your spinal health, the effects branch out. Keeping proper spinal alignment through 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 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.
Make your Richmond chiropractic appointment soon.
