Spending too much time on a cell phone can lead to health problems, especially in the neck area. Find out how to reduce damage in 5 steps
Have you ever heard of “tech neck” in Portuguese? It is a disease caused by excessive use of cell phones and smartphones. But what does this have to do with the neck? Basically, this excess can cause jowls and wrinkles to appear in this area of the body, as well as other damage. And, contrary to what one might imagine, the problem does not only concern young people, but individuals of all ages.
According to YouGov, a UK research institute, 53% of mobile phone users feel anxious when they can’t use their smartphone. In the same study, more than half of respondents said they never turn off their phones.
“Technology addiction, which is quite common and growing, can aggravate or even cause problems in the cervical spine, causing pain and other damage. After all, the person spends a lot of time looking down, with poor posture,” explains Il neurosurgeon dr. Antonio Araujo.
According to him, the habit of keeping your head down while looking at your cell phone screen accelerates the aging process and, above all, ends up causing long-term postural problems. Thinking about it, the expert has listed some tips to avoid this problem. Watch:
Put a time limit on using your cell phone
According to the expert, it is important to set a time limit for the use of the mobile phone and thus minimize the damage. “As mentioned above, it is very problematic to spend a lot of time with bad posture and if you have a limit on the use of your smartphone, this exposure to what is harmful is less,” explains Dr. Araujo.
Nowadays, mobile phones themselves can be programmed for this type of control via applications or the configuration of the device itself.
divide your time
In many cases it is not possible to minimize the time of use of the mobile phone, mainly due to work. So, the ideal is to divide that time. That is, when you realize that you have had bad posture for many hours, get up, take a walk, lower the device a little and fix your position.
“Doing so, you spend less time in the wrong posture, get up, which is also very good for your circulation, and get back to work by adjusting your position again,” advises the doctor.
Pay attention to your posture
Correct posture is essential to avoid problems such as “technical neck”. Therefore, the neurosurgeon always recommends paying attention to the position of the neck and spine. “This is important to train your body so that it is always in the correct posture. After that, it becomes more natural,” explains the expert.
practice physical activity
Physical exercises are essential to keep your health up to date. But, in addition, they are also excellent for avoiding postural problems and, consequently, deformities such as the technological neck.
“The practice of exercises such as bodybuilding, pilates, among others, ‘teaches’ the body to always have the correct posture. However, it is important to always be accompanied by a professional,” emphasizes Antônio.
Feeling pain is not normal! Seek a doctor
“It is always good to emphasize that the absence of pain is normal and usually means that something is wrong. Therefore, if you start to feel any pain, seek out a doctor to investigate the reason and start treatment,” recommends the specialist.
It is also worth remembering that the sooner a disease or deformity is evaluated by a specialist, the easier it is to cure. “The prognosis is always better when the problem is identified and treated correctly from the beginning, so you need to be careful,” she concludes.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
