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 Murfreesboro, Most Chiropractic Clinic sees an epidemic of tech-related issues, and the latest research reveals the issue 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
What surprises most of our chiropractic patients: forward head posture affects much more than just your neck. Recent studies show it's directly affecting 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 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 the only one feeling these effects!
THE SPINE-EYE CONNECTION YOU NEED TO KNOW
Researchers are now describing "cervical oculopathy"—where neck misalignments cause 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 interfere with the blood supply and nerve pathways reaching your eyes. Studies found that patients with chronic, unexplained visual symptoms often show 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) 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 extreme flexion angles—a downward spiral affecting 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 triggering neck pain. The lifestyle factors surrounding heavy phone use—disrupted sleep and sedentary behavior—may cause even more musculoskeletal damage.
CONTACT Most Chiropractic Clinic FOR YOUR CHIROPRACTIC ACTION PLAN
This research reinforces our healthcare approach at Most Chiropractic Clinic. 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 ripple outward. Keeping proper spinal alignment through 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 Murfreesboro chiropractic appointment today.
