In the current era, social media has become a part of daily life, leading to increased use of smartphones, tablets, or computers, as if they were a shadow following us. From the past where their use was only for making phone calls or checking emails, now there’s a significant increase in usage duration. Some people use them almost all the time, from morning till night, and even keep them by their side while sleeping, making them almost an indispensable part of the body.
The increased use of smartphones directly affects the nervous system and neck vertebrae. Using them in inappropriate postures for extended periods can lead to health problems. A frequent symptom found among the “Downward-looking society” is headaches.
Headaches are a common symptom in people of all sexes and ages, caused by various reasons. It could be due to an overly sensitive nervous system, leading to migraine headaches, or from other abnormalities such as brain tumors, cerebral hemorrhage, abnormal brain pressure, certain drugs or chemicals, etc.
Excessive use of smartphones or computers, or using them in incorrect postures, is also a cause of headaches. Bending your head down for extended periods can cause muscle strain or tightness in the neck muscles, leading to lumps. This pain can then spread to nearby areas such as the back of the head, temples, around the eyes, or forehead.
This condition is common, especially among those who work on computers for long periods or use smartphones inappropriately, which is well known as “Myofascial pain syndrome (MFS)”.
Bending your head down for long periods also affects the neck vertebrae, causing them to bear up to 6 times their normal weight, leading to early degeneration of the cervical vertebrae, or even causing the cervical discs to herniate and compress the nerve. This degeneration, if it compresses the spinal nerves at levels 1 – 4 (Cervical nerve root level 1-4), can cause headaches at the back of the head, sides of the head, temples, eyes, forehead, and middle of the skull, medically known as “Cervicogenic headache”.
Furthermore, while using smartphones or computers, the light emitted from the screen or reflected light can also trigger sudden migraine headaches in individuals who already suffer from migraines. As well as muscle tightness causing pain in the neck and head can induce sudden severe migraines.
From what has been discussed above, it is evident that the “Downward-looking society” can lead to various types of headaches, some of which may be severe enough to require surgery. Therefore, proper use of smartphones or computers can help prevent headaches. If you experience headaches from using smartphones or computers, consider consulting a specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
