Shakeela has had neck surgery after she suffered from serious physical problems related to long periods of smartphone use, the actress has said. Her life had been affected for hours when she used a mobile phone, especially lying on her side in bed, playing games or watching short-form videos.
Shakeela, who has been in the Indian film industry since she was 13, said that smartphone use became a health problem. She said she would spend hours playing games and watching reels on her phone, often lying in an unsuitable position.
The actress was in a lot of pain before she got the surgery, the report said. The treatment was estimated to cost around ₹3 lakh and was a huge financial burden on what was already a difficult health situation. Shakeela used her own experience to say people shouldn’t spend too much time on smartphones and not think about posture and health.
Smartphone use is now an inherent part of everyday life. People use mobile phones for communication, entertainment, education, work, and social media. The amount of time spent on screens by short format video platforms and mobile games is only going to increase. For some people, long-term mobile phone use can be an automatic habit, especially at night in bed.
One of Shakeela's concerns is the position with which people use their phones. Holding a smartphone for a long period of time when lying down can make the neck uncomfortable or remain in a fixed position. If people remain in the same position for a long time, they are likely to suffer and strain their muscles. Therefore, frequent breaks and attention to posture are key when working with digital devices.
Shakeela’s experience should not be interpreted as proof that smartphone use alone causes the need for neck surgery in every individual. Neck problems can have many causes, and medical evaluation is necessary to determine the reason for a particular condition. But long-term bad posture and long periods without movement can cause musculoskeletal discomfort, and so her warning is relevant to wider discussions about healthy device habits.
Reels and other streaming short films are also getting popular nowadays, and so people don’t just watch a few videos but watch a stream of them all the while. It’s hard to compute how much time has passed in the process. Mobile games can also encourage long periods of uninterrupted use, especially when players get involved in gameplay.
Shakeela advised people to avoid smartphone use and to pay more attention to their physical health, the paper reported. She also added a warning for parents and children. She asked the public to prevent children’s excessive screen time as early as possible and also to develop good digital habits in young children.
For the younger generations today, children are surrounded by smartphones, tablets, computers, and other digital devices. Screens are great for education and communication, but long-term use of screens is not a good idea because it takes up time for physical activity, outdoor play, sleep, and face-to-face interaction. Setting up routines is critical to child-oriented programming and interaction for them.
Parents can encourage healthier behaviors by establishing clear screen-time routines and ensuring children take regular breaks. Encouraging outdoor activities, hobbies, reading, and other non-screen pursuits can also help reduce dependence on digital entertainment. Rather than simply prohibiting devices, families can develop a balanced routine in which technology is used responsibly.
Adults can also review their smartphone habits. Many people check their phones every day, eat, travel, watch TV, or lie down in bed. So long periods of phone use are often not noticed because the duration can seem short even if they take up a number of hours.
Health practitioners largely stress the need to maintain a comfortable position, to shift positions regularly, and to take breaks when screen use is prolonged. Keeping a device at a comfortable viewing height can reduce the need to bend the neck excessively. Frequent movement and physical activity may also reduce the time people spend in one fixed position.
Shakeela’s story has attracted attention because she openly linked her personal experience with a broader public health message. Celebrity experiences often reach audiences that may not hear warnings about everyday habits. She has discussed her surgery and the cost of her treatment, and the consequences of being uncomfortable all the time.
Her comments also come during a time of growing issues of digital dependency. Smartphones are no longer just communication devices; they have become platforms for entertainment, shopping, banking, gaming, and social interaction. So it is unrealistic to avoid them completely. The more practical solution is to use them in ways that help avoid strain and encourage healthier habits.
It is the actress’s warning about children that really resonates as families confront the increasing role of technology in education and entertainment. Digital devices are useful tools for learning, but too much screen use is not good for children’s growth; sleep, exercise, socialization, and many other aspects of childhood development.
For adults, Shakeela’s experience shows us all to be aware of warning signs like neck pain, stiffness, and discomfort, and not to continue the same routine. People who have ongoing or serious symptoms should seek advice from professional healthcare practitioners, not assume that changing phone habits will remedy a medical problem by themselves.
Shakeela’s own situation is an example that convenience and entertainment shouldn’t take precedence over physical health. Smartphones are great tools, but the way they are used matters. If you spend hours in the same position (as in lying down), you can put unnecessary strain on the body.
Digital entertainment is slowly becoming an accepted aspect of our daily lives, and maintaining a healthy relationship with technology is really important. Regular breaks, good posture, staying active, and reasonable screen-time limits are all good practices.
Shakeela’s decision to speak out publicly about her neck surgery has therefore turned a personal health episode into a wider warning about smartphone use. Her message to adults and parents is straightforward: use mobile devices in moderation, avoid unhealthy viewing positions, and encourage children to live a healthy life rather than spending too much time on screens.
Comments
Please to leave a comment on this article.