If you’ve ever looked up from your phone with a stiff neck, headaches, or tight shoulders, you’ve met “tech neck.” It’s easy to wonder: If posture can affect breathing and nerves, could it also affect the heart? And where does chiropractic care fit?

Here’s the evidence-based answer:

• There is not strong evidence that “tech neck” directly causes heart attacks.
• There is strong evidence that long periods of sitting and high screen-time (which often go with tech neck) are associated with higher cardiovascular risk.
• There is emerging evidence that forward head posture (“text neck”) can be associated with changes in the autonomic nervous system (measured by heart-rate variability), but this does not prove it leads to heart attacks.
• Chiropractic care can help many people with neck pain and function (especially as part of a plan that includes exercise and movement). That may indirectly support heart health by helping you move more—but it should not be marketed as “heart-attack prevention.”

This article is educational and not personal medical advice. If you think you’re having a heart attack, call emergency services.

What “tech neck” really is

“Tech neck” is a common name for strain and posture changes that can happen when you spend a lot of time looking down at screens—especially phones and tablets. The pattern many clinicians describe is forward head posture (your head drifting forward in front of your shoulders), often with rounded upper back and shoulders.

Both Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic patient education describe how looking down increases load on the neck and can contribute to pain and symptoms over time.

Common tech-neck symptoms can include:

• neck pain and stiffness
• headaches
• upper back/shoulder tightness
• reduced comfort with prolonged sitting or device use

Does tech neck directly cause heart attacks?

The honest answer: we don’t have proof

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is usually caused by reduced blood flow to heart muscle, most often related to coronary artery disease. The biggest proven risk factors are things like smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity—plus inactivity and diet.

Right now, research does not show that forward head posture by itself predicts heart attacks the way those established risk factors do.

What we do see in the research: “signals,” not a direct cause

A 2025 cross-sectional study found that “text neck”/forward head posture was associated with shifts in cardiac autonomic modulation (heart-rate variability patterns suggesting relatively higher sympathetic and lower parasympathetic activity).

That’s interesting—but it’s important to translate what it means:

• Association ≠ causation. Cross-sectional studies can’t prove what caused what.
• HRV is a marker, not a heart attack. Autonomic changes can be influenced by sleep, stress, fitness, pain, caffeine, illness, and many other factors.

So, this is best viewed as an early research clue, not a “tech neck causes heart attacks” conclusion.

The bigger heart-health link is sitting and screen time

Here’s where the strongest “direct line” to heart risk exists:

• A 2022 systematic review/meta-analysis found that high total sedentary time and high screen time were associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk (even after adjusting for physical activity and other risk factors).
• The American Heart Association has also emphasized that sedentary behavior and physical inactivity are major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and mortality.
• Large cohort research using device-measured sedentary time (accelerometers) has linked more sedentary time with future cardiovascular outcomes, including myocardial infarction, in prospective analyses.

Why this matters for tech neck

Tech neck is often less of a “posture problem” and more of a behavior + time problem:

• long sitting bouts
• head-down screen time
• fewer movement breaks

That combination can affect your neck and your cardiovascular system.

How neck pain can indirectly impact heart health

If tech neck turns into persistent neck pain, there are plausible ways that could indirectly connect to heart risk:

• Pain can reduce activity. If your neck hurts, you may walk less, exercise less, or avoid strength training.
• Pain can worsen sleep and stress. Poor sleep and chronic stress are both linked to worse cardiometabolic health.
• Chronic pain and cardiovascular disease often co-occur. A systematic review/meta-analysis found people with chronic musculoskeletal pain were about 1.9 times more likely to report cardiovascular disease compared with those without chronic musculoskeletal pain.

This doesn’t mean “neck pain causes heart disease,” but it supports the idea that chronic pain can be part of a broader risk picture—and it’s a reason to take persistent pain seriously.

Where chiropractic can help (for patients), and where it shouldn’t be overstated

What chiropractic care is best supported for

For many patients, chiropractic care is sought for musculoskeletal problems—especially spine-related pain and reduced function.

A major 2017 neck pain clinical practice guideline (JOSPT/Orthopaedic Section) includes recommendations that can involve manual therapy (mobilization/manipulation) combined with exercise for certain neck pain presentations.

A Cochrane review update also evaluates manipulation/mobilization for neck disorders, focusing on outcomes like pain and function.

Patient translation: chiropractic may help some people feel and move better—especially when paired with exercise, posture/ergonomics, and a plan to build strength and endurance.

What chiropractic is not proven to do

It is not accurate to say chiropractic care “prevents heart attacks.” Heart attack prevention is primarily about controlling the known risk factors (BP, lipids, smoking, diabetes, activity, diet).

What about blood pressure?

You may see claims that spinal manipulation “lowers blood pressure.”

• A 2020 systematic review/meta-analysis reported blood pressure reductions after spinal manipulation/mobilization, but this area is still mixed and study quality varies.
• A well-known 2007 pilot trial (atlas adjustment approach) explored BP changes in selected patients.
• Other research does not show consistent BP reduction in all settings, and more rigorous studies are still needed.

Patient translation: If you have high blood pressure, treat it as a medical condition first (home BP checks, primary care evaluation, medication when needed). Chiropractic may be a supportive part of your overall wellness plan, but it should not replace evidence-based hypertension care.

Safety note (important)

When people talk about chiropractic and “heart events,” they sometimes confuse heart attack with stroke.

A 2014 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association scientific statement discusses cervical artery dissection (a cause of stroke in younger people) and its statistical association with cervical manipulative therapy, while noting that causality is uncertain (for example, some people may already be developing a dissection and seek care for neck pain/headache).

Patient takeaway: If you’re considering neck manipulation, ask about:

• your personal risk factors
• alternative techniques (mobilization, soft tissue work, exercise-based care)
• informed consent and red flags

A practical plan that helps both your neck and your heart

1) Break up sitting time (this is huge)

Even if you exercise, sitting for very long stretches can still be harmful. Large evidence reviews link high sedentary time and screen time with cardiovascular risk.

Try:

• stand up every 30–60 minutes
• take 2–5 minutes to walk, stretch, or do light movement
• take phone calls standing or walking

2) Raise your screen toward eye level

One simple ergonomic idea: bring the phone up instead of bending your neck down.

The University of Virginia ergonomics guidance suggests bringing the device to eye level rather than bending the neck forward.

3) Use exercise as your “anti-tech-neck” foundation

Exercise is not just for pain relief—it’s preventive.

A JOSPT systematic review/meta-analysis reports that exercise programs can reduce the risk of a new episode of neck pain compared to minimal intervention.

Examples many clinicians use:

• deep neck flexor (“chin tuck”) work
• upper back/scapular strengthening
• thoracic mobility
• general aerobic movement (walking counts!)

4) Hit the weekly movement targets that protect your heart

The WHO recommends adults get 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week (or 75–150 minutes vigorous), plus muscle-strengthening activities. CDC guidance aligns closely with these targets.

5) Track the real heart-attack risk factors (and don’t ignore symptoms)

If your goal is preventing heart attacks, focus on the proven drivers:

• don’t smoke
• check and control blood pressure
• manage cholesterol
• manage diabetes/blood sugar
• maintain a healthy weight and diet
• move regularly

When to seek urgent medical care

Tech neck can cause neck pain—but neck/jaw discomfort can also be a heart-attack symptom, especially when it comes with other warning signs.

CDC lists heart attack symptoms that may include chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and pain in the jaw, neck, back, arm, or shoulder (plus nausea, light-headedness, or unusual fatigue). The American Heart Association also outlines common warning signs and encourages urgent action.

If you suspect a heart attack: call emergency services immediately.

Bottom line

• Tech neck is real and can meaningfully impact comfort, headaches, and function.
• It is not proven to directly cause heart attacks.
• The strongest heart link is the lifestyle pattern around it: long sitting + high screen time + less movement.
• Chiropractic can be helpful for neck pain and mobility for many people—especially as part of a plan that includes exercise and movement—potentially helping you return to heart-healthy activity.