Beyond Neck Pain: How Your Smartphone Is Affecting Your Heart, Eyes, and Nervous System
That device in your hand as you read this? It's quietly affecting your heart, eyes, sleep, and nervous system in ways you never expected. As your local chiropractor in La Grande, Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC sees an awful lot of tech-related issues, and the newest research reveals the problem 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 impacts far more than just your neck. 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, interfering with proper nerve signaling and activating your sympathetic nervous system. Your body stays in fight-or-flight mode, boosting 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 noting "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 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
Scientists measuring neck positioning found a clear pattern: complex activities like typing force your head further forward. (3) Typing forces your neck forward more than 30 degrees, compared to about 26 degrees when watching videos. 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
Here's the twist: a year-long study found 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 instigate even more musculoskeletal damage.
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC FOR YOUR CHIROPRACTIC ACTION PLAN
This research reinforces our healthcare approach at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC. Regular chiropractic adjustments maintain 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, especially when typing, and take frequent breaks.
Your nervous system controls everything. When smartphone habits compromise your spinal health, the effects branch out. Keeping proper spinal alignment through regular chiropractic care may well protect 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 La Grande chiropractic appointment today.
