Your neck could be paying the price when it comes to texting. It's not an official term, but many doctors refer to it as "text neck." When your head moves down to look at your phone, the weight on your neck increases, and it can strain the neck vertebrae. In some cases, it can even permanently curve the bones.
"As phones become more sophisticated. there are more capabilities and people are using them to text, play games, and check e-mail," says Dr. Scott Bautch, of Bautch Allied Health in Wausau. "Bones can change shape and that's for the rest of your life. If you get that rounded, forward posture, it's extremely difficult to recover from."
It's not just your neck, either. When your head is bent forward it can compress your lungs and cause breathing issues. It can also cause digestive issues, as your abdomen is squished. Carpal Tunnel is also a risk.
Dr. Bautch says adolescents have the highest number of "text neck" cases. He recommends reducing the amount you text, taking frequent breaks while texting, and raising your head up rather than looking down while using your phone.
