Beyond Neck Pain: How Your Smartphone Is Affecting Your Heart, Eyes, and Nervous System

That device in your hand right now? It's quietly impacting your heart, eyes, sleep, and nervous system in ways you never expected. As your local chiropractor in Nashua, Moriarty Chiropractic sees an awful lot of tech-related issues, and the latest 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

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 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 triggering 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 alone!

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 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

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 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 major risk factor for 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 cause even more musculoskeletal damage.

CONTACT Moriarty Chiropractic FOR YOUR CHIROPRACTIC ACTION PLAN

This research reinforces our healthcare approach at Moriarty 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 compromise 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 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.

Schedule your Nashua chiropractic appointment today.