Do Smartphones Cause More Headaches?

By Pat Anson, PNN Editor

People with headaches who use smartphones are more likely to use more pain medication, but get less relief from the drugs, according to a new study conducted in India.

Researchers surveyed 400 people who suffer from a primary headache condition, which includes migraine, tension headache and other types of headaches, asking them about their smartphone and medication use.

The smartphone users were more likely to take pain-relieving drugs for their headaches than non-users, with 96% of smartphone users taking the drugs compared to 81% of non-users. Smartphone users took an average of eight pills per month compared to five pills per month for non-users.

Smartphone users also reported less relief from pain medication, with 84% gaining moderate or complete relief of headache pain compared to 94% of non-users. The study findings were published in the journal Neurology Clinical Practice.

"While these 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 lead author Deepti Vibha, DM, of All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

The study has limitations. It only examined people at one point in time and did not follow them over an extended period. It also relied on people to self-report their symptoms and use of pain medication.

While the study does not prove that smartphone use causes headaches or greater use of pain medication, it does show an association.

“There is a great deal of speculation among the lay population regarding the effect of computers and mobile phones on ailments such as headaches and neck pain. However, although there are anecdotal stories suggesting a link between technology use and pain, there is little evidence of either a definitive relationship or data absolving mobile phones or computers from a link to recurrent pain,” wrote Heidi Moawad, MD, of Case Western Reserve University, in an editorial accompanying the study.

“Smartphone users may rely on the devices for many hours per day -- while on the go, resting, or working -- which puts a strain on the eyes, neck, and back. As people are becoming more dependent on these devices, it would be worthwhile to know whether using smartphones could lead to health problems.”

A 2017 study speculated that high energy visible (HEV) light – also known as blue light – emitted by smartphones, laptops, desktop computers and other digital devices could contribute to headaches by causing eye strain. Blue light has a very short wavelength that penetrates deep into the eye.

A nationwide survey of nearly 10,000 adults by The Vision Council found that about a third had symptoms of digital eye strain, including neck and shoulder pain, headache, blurred vision and dry eyes.

More information about blue light can be found at BlueLightExposed.com.

The Hidden Risk of Eye Strain From ‘Blue Light’

By Pat Anson, Editor

Do you get frequent headaches? Suffer from neck and shoulder pain? Have trouble getting to sleep?

If you spend a lot of time online, the culprit could be high energy visible (HEV) light – also known as blue light – emitted by your smartphone, laptop, desktop computer and other digital devices.

Blue light has a very short wavelength that penetrates deep into the eye. In its natural form, blue light is what makes the sky look blue and can have beneficial effects, such as boosting alertness and elevating mood. But the additional burden of artificial blue light is exposing us to more blue light waves than our eyes can handle.

According to a nationwide survey of nearly 10,000 adults by The Vision Council, nearly 9 out of 10 Americans use digital devices more than two hours per day, and over half regularly use two digital devices simultaneously.

Many don’t realize that prolonged exposure to blue light raises the risk of digital eye strain, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts; and can also suppress of the body's natural release of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.

"Patients underestimate how their technology use may be contributing to eye strain and do not consider ways to reduce this stress," says Dr. Justin Bazan, OD, medical adviser to The Vision Council.   

About a third of those surveyed reported having symptoms of digital eye strain, including neck and shoulder pain (30%), headache (23%), blurred vision (22%) and dry eyes (22%). 

More than 80% also report that they use digital devices in the hour before going to bed.  Eye exposure before bedtime has been shown to disrupt sleep patterns.

Prolonged blue light exposure is common in children. Three out of four Americans say their children get more than two hours of screen time a day. Half report these children suffer from headaches, neck and shoulder pain, irritated eyes, reduced attention span, poor behavior, or irritability.

The Vision Council says there are a number of easy steps to prevent digital eye strain:

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule, by taking a 20-second break from the screen every 20 minutes and looking at something 20 feet away
• Reduce overhead lighting to eliminate screen glare
• Position yourself at arm's distance away from computer screens
• Increase text size on devices to better define content on the screen

Specialized eyewear is also available with lenses that can block blue light, decrease brightness, minimize glare, and reduce the blurriness and pixilation of screens. The lenses are constructed for the mid-distance range at which users typically view a digital screen, and can be purchased with or without a prescription. 

"The optical industry has recognized and responded to the increase in digital habits and has developed lens and coating technology to protect the eyes from blue light, glare and other environmental stressors, ultimately to improve the way people see," says Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council.

More information about blue light can be found at BlueLightExposed.com.