Hey there! 📱
Smartphones are arguably the most-used tech in our lives. It connects us to the world, to our loved ones and keep our lives on track….but they also keep us tethered to tiny screens for hours on end. 👀 That constant swiping, scrolling, and hunching doesn’t just give us bad posture, it gives us aches and pains in the long run. And while researchers are beginning to explore whether heavy tech use could even raise levels of chronic inflammation in the body, what we already know for sure is that our wrists, thumbs, and neck are paying the price. 👎🏻
Is there a link between smartphone use and chronic inflammation?
Studies are starting to suggest it. For example, a 2024 University at Buffalo study found that more time on social media predicted higher inflammation levels weeks later, measured in the blood. 🩸 That’s fascinating, but it’s still early science it may be correlated but not the cause or it can be one of the causes. We can’t yet say that social media apps or streaming apps directly inflames your cells, only that screen time might play a role through stress, sleep loss, or other lifestyle factors. 🔄️
So while the “whole-body inflammation” question is still evolving, the pain we feel in our hands and neck is much less debatable.
Why do our hands and wrists hurt so much from phones?
Orthopaedic surgeons have a name for it: smartphone tendinitis. Repeated motions that irritate the tendons and nerves in our hands. Some common diagnoses include:
· Trigger thumb or trigger finger – when inflamed tendons catch painfully as you bend.
· De Quervain’s tendinitis – inflammation on the thumb side of the wrist.
· Carpal tunnel syndrome – compression of the median nerve at the wrist, leading to numbness or tingling.
What about neck and shoulder pain?
Phones don’t stop at the wrist. When we bend forward to look at our screens, we load our neck with stress equal to several kilos. Over time, this “tech neck” can inflame muscles, stiffen joints, and make everyday movements uncomfortable. Add long hours of work or gaming, and the inflammation spreads beyond the thumbs to our upper back and shoulders. 😩
How can we ease the strain?
Doctors recommend practical tweaks like switching fingers, using voice commands, and taking breaks. But when pain and inflammation have already set in, supportive care matters too.
So why not take a little Oleia break between that doomscrolling? Massaging ♨️Oleia Warm Mint Oil♨️ into your wrists, neck, and shoulders lets you feel that unique blend of warming and cooling effects, easing tension and helping pain melt away faster than you’d expect. Its natural anti-inflammatory ingredients get delivered straight to where they’re needed, fast. And not gonna lie, I might have to take a page out of my own book for this one. The wrist pain is no joke. 😝
Chronic inflammation from smartphone use is still under scientific investigation, but the aches in our thumbs, wrists, and neck are undeniable. Tech isn’t going away, so the smarter move is to manage its impact on our bodies. With mindful habits and natural support from Oleia Oil, we can keep our connections strong without letting inflammation run as down. 💜
Show me your bottle and I’ll show you mine? ’Til next time! 👋🏻
xo, L.
References:
https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2024/01/lee-social-media-use-inflammation-over-time.html
https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/what-is-smartphone-tendinitis
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/is-there-a-link-between-hand-pain-and-your-smartphone-use
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563217306908