Smartphones can increase your headache if you're already suffering from one
| Mar 6, 2020, 11:24 IST
Smartphone use has almost become a norm amongst people. You won't find even a single person out there who isn't typing away at their phone. And let's be honest, things have become so much simpler with the kind of technology smartphones these days have to offer. Unfortunately, there's always a bad side to something good too. And it's the same with smartphones. A new study has found that if you regularly suffer from headaches or migraines, using smartphones can make your condition worse.
The study found that such people are more likely to use more painkillers and find less relief from the pain. It was also found that people in India suffered mostly from a primary type of headache which included migraine, tension headache and other headache types that do not occur because of other underlying issues but on their own.
“While the results need to be confirmed with larger and more rigorous studies, the findings are concerning, as smartphone use is growing rapidly and has been linked to a number of symptoms, with headache being the most common,” said study author Deepti Vibha. Although it hasn't been proved that smartphone use could add to your headache, there certainly has been an association between the two.
What's more, smartphone users also reported less relief from the pain as compared to non-users. However, it was not found how often these headaches occurred, how severe they were or how long they lasted. “The root of the problem is not yet clear. Is it a user’s neck position? Or the phone’s lighting? Or eye strain? Or the stress of being connected at all times? Answers will likely emerge in upcoming years and eventually guide strategies for more sustainable use of the devices,” said Heidi Moawad, member of the American Academy of Neurology.
“Features such as hands-free settings, voice activation and audio functions could potentially hold the key to helping smartphone users benefit from their phones without exacerbating their headaches,” Moawad added.
The study found that such people are more likely to use more painkillers and find less relief from the pain. It was also found that people in India suffered mostly from a primary type of headache which included migraine, tension headache and other headache types that do not occur because of other underlying issues but on their own.
“While the results need to be confirmed with larger and more rigorous studies, the findings are concerning, as smartphone use is growing rapidly and has been linked to a number of symptoms, with headache being the most common,” said study author Deepti Vibha. Although it hasn't been proved that smartphone use could add to your headache, there certainly has been an association between the two.
What's more, smartphone users also reported less relief from the pain as compared to non-users. However, it was not found how often these headaches occurred, how severe they were or how long they lasted. “The root of the problem is not yet clear. Is it a user’s neck position? Or the phone’s lighting? Or eye strain? Or the stress of being connected at all times? Answers will likely emerge in upcoming years and eventually guide strategies for more sustainable use of the devices,” said Heidi Moawad, member of the American Academy of Neurology.
“Features such as hands-free settings, voice activation and audio functions could potentially hold the key to helping smartphone users benefit from their phones without exacerbating their headaches,” Moawad added.