Watch where you’re going!

Surprising fact: Injuries to the face, eyes, nose, ears and head have risen steeply in the last 20 years, and most were caused by distracted driving, walking and texting with a cellphone. A study published recently in the journal JAMA noted that these kinds of traumas were infrequent until 2007—when Apple introduced the first iPhone—and then the numbers suddenly increased. Injuries range from cuts and bruises caused by dropping a phone on your face or the battery exploding to walking into a pole or crashing your car due to distraction. Then there’s a thing known as “text neck.” Many physical therapists blame poor posture while looking at your cellphone (head tilted forward and back hunched over) for headaches, a stiff neck, sore shoulders and even spine misalignment. New Year’s resolution? Sit up straight and be mindful when using your cellphone.

Source: JAMA Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery