Technology: A Real Pain In The Neck?
You may call it a necessity, but chiropractors call it “tech neck.” It’s a condition that can seriously damage your physical health, and it is becoming a common reason for serious neck and back pain.
The human head weighs about 12 pounds, but as the neck bends forward and down, the weight on the spine multiplies. Some experts have found that for every inch the head tilts forward, the pressure on the spine doubles.
The result is a diagnosis that never existed just 10 years ago…you may have “tech neck.” Medical experts have been warning people for years of this potentially debilitating issue. It has become more prevalent with the constant staring down at a smartphone, the way millions do for hours every day.
According to research published in the National Library of Medicine, over time, this poor posture, cleverly referred to as “tech neck,” can lead to early wear-and-tear on the spine, degeneration and even surgery.
As you stretch the tissue in the neck and back for long periods of time, it gets sore and inflamed, often resulting in muscle strain, pinched nerves, herniated disks and, over time, it can even remove the neck’s natural curve.
“Just look around you, everyone has their heads down. The problem is really profound in young people,” investigators stated “With this excessive stress in the neck, we might start seeing young people needing spine care.”
We all love technology and none of us has any plans to walk away from our communication devices. But perhaps if you have proper protection of your data, you will less inclined to continually bend over and strain your neck from ensuring no unwanted guest has entered your phone or tablet.
That’s leads to the topic of acquiring the unequalled benefit of anti-virus software on all your electronic gadgets.
McAfee’s monitoring techniques, coupled with timely email alerts, act like an early detection system against identity theft. Plus, if you become a victim of identity theft while enrolled in and using McAfee Identity Protection, McAfee will actually reimburse you for certain identity theft expenses.
And if you find yourself constantly checking your credit card and bank statements for fraud, Bitdefender software can help preserve the safety of financial information. Aside from its powerful anti-virus capability, it is equipped with anti-spyware, anti-theft, safe banking and even ID theft protection.
Cybercriminals are no match for Norton’s products that shield personal information and block fake web sites from tricking you into revealing and disclosing confidential information. Essentially, consumers of Norton’s software have the capability of locking their machines from prying eyes.
So with a few simple steps, you can breathe easier and avoid the long-term problems of “tech neck.” Experts offer some tips on how best to engage with your phone or tablet and avoid physical issues:
• The best way to use your phone is sitting tall, head level, back toward over your shoulders, shoulders back and down, elbows into your side, phone up so you’re looking straight ahead
• Stretch regularly: Move your head from left to right several times
• Be aware of your posture…better posture equals better health, especially as we age
• Look down at your device with your eyes…No need to bend your neck
• Secure your information with top-quality anti-virus software
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