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Health vs Technology For staying healthy, technology can help us to monitor our personal behaviour. We can use the mobile or smart watch to check our fitness efforts, manage our diets, or save our medical record. Because of these advancements, today’s society can improve the health care system by improving relationships with patients, providing better patient care, and medical results can send directly to your mobile device. However, we have noticed that more and more patients overuse of technology, especially the current reliance on mobile devices in our daily life. A study found that there were 60 percent 18 to 36 ages adults are smartphone overusing. This makes us to raise a question, “What are the negative effects of technology on health?” Mental Health Every day, more than 3 billion individuals communicate with each other through social media. Although many of our communication are usually harmless, our well-being may be compromised by overusing these services. Social media addiction is associated with an increase in mental health problems such as suicidal ideation and depression, particularly in adolescents. By highlighting how social media such as Instagram, Facebook and snapchat put higher social pressures on adults and teenagers that can contribute to instances of cyberbullying, increased need for acceptance, and feelings of dissatisfaction, researchers have made that connection. One research found that teenagers who spent 6 or more hours a day on social media were double chance to have symptoms linked to depression. It also showed that women using social media at that same level were more likely than men to show symptoms pf depression. Managing tips for social media use You don’t have to detach or uninstall your social media accounts. We suggest seeking a healthy balance that puts less force on and controlling how much you use digital reward programs. Here are several healthy ways for social media to be used: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Take occasional breaks and log off from social media. Account Limitation. Delete useless apps. Decide carefully what you intend to share. Set an online schedule.
Physical Inactivity Physical Inactivity is recognized as the single most-commonly known cause of a number of non-communicable or lifestyle diseases and disorders such as obesity, heart attack, hypertension and coronary heart disease. In addition, depression and anxiety related mental health issues have been satisfactorily pointed to physical inactivity.
Technological advancements of the modern age have automated an overwhelming majority of previously-engaging human activities. The contemporary condition of an increasingly industrialized world has appropriately made different aspects of human life less physical, in comparison to the olden times. Advancements in fields such as transport and communication - notably in social media tools - have had a dramatic effect on human physical activity, leading to an increased adoption and growth of both young and elderly sedentary living. Logically, the time you spend being healthy is decreased by spending more time on the sofa and watching TV or playing video games. The correlation between obesity and gaming, however, is slightly correlated with weight gain in adults, with obesity being more associated with exposure to unnatural blue light from a TV and smart devices. Apps to help you become physically involved To help you stick to an exercise routine, stay motivated and monitor your progress, there are plenty of fitness apps available. It will help you get enough movement to offset your screen time and promote exercise. Sleep Disorders We have always been fascinated by electronic devices and even sleep with them. One study showed that over 70 percent of owners of mobile phones carry their phone at night near to their bed to guarantee they do not miss any notification. It seems like not a harmful habit, but your sleep ability may interfere with the use of midnight technology. 40 percent of people complain that they cannot sleep enough, according to a Gallup poll. Tips for dealing mobile phone addition in midnight Try substituting the use of midnight devices with sleep-relaxing behaviors such as reading in bed or taking a hot bath to prevent sleep disturbance. Here are several ways for reducing the desires for people to bringing mobile phone to bed: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Listen to the soft music. Turn off the Wi-Fi. Set a data limit. Turn on do not disturb mode. Set phone screen to dark mode.
Eyestrain Technologies may hold the attention of a person for long periods. This can contribute to eyestrain. Normally, about 15-20 times a minute, we blink. That uniformly spreads tears over your eyes, preventing them from being dry and irritated. But researchers have found that when people are reading, watching, or playing on a television, they blink less than half as much. In addition, reading the text can intensify the stress. Digital eyestrain symptoms may include blurred vision and dry eyes. In other areas of the body, such as the head, neck, or shoulders, eyestrain may also result in discomfort
Ways to prevent digital eyestrain The American Optometric Association recommends using the 20-20-20 rule when using some type of digital screen for longer periods of time. To use the rule, take a 20-second break to look at something at least 20 feet away after every 20 minutes of screen time. Doing this will help reduce the pressure on the eyes from a prolonged duration of gazing at a screen. Here are several ways for preventing digital eyestrain: 1. Make sure your computer screen is approximately 25 inches away from your face. For the center of the screen should be about 10-15 degrees below eye level. 2. Use a matte screen filter. 3. Use artificial tears. 4. Take regular eyes exams. 5. Ensure that the lighting is bright enough in the room. Poor Posture (Tech Neck) Tech neck, also referred to as text neck, results by spending extended periods with your head and neck spread over your body too far forward. People with tech neck have little to no curve in the neck on X-rays. Tech Neck might bring 7 impacts: Structural back and neck problems, Shoulder pain, strains the neck, headaches, spine wear and tear, stiffness and abnormal curvature. Structural back and neck problems: the muscles in your upper back stretch out as your posture gets worse, and the muscles in the front of your body tend to get weaker, your neck inches forward, and your head feels 10 pounds heavier. Not only does the technical neck cause structural issues with the back and neck, it can also trigger problems with panic and breathing. Shoulder pain: Many people prefer to hunch their shoulders with one hand to keep their smartphone so that they can text with the other. Incorrect ergonomics will also make you hunch over your keyboard as you sit in front of your computer. Strains the neck: It can cause extra neck strain to use the device or smartphone all day. A forward head position will cause the muscles behind the neck to overstretch and the muscles in the front will shorten excessively. It can also lead to soreness, stiffness and pain in the neck. Headaches: Some individuals may also experience headaches, either from having their head too far forward over their shoulders while reading the computer monitor or from tilting their head down to read the display of the mobile phone. Each of these positions will over-balance their head and may cause headaches. Spine wear and tear: The more people rely on their mobile electronic devices, the more it affects their postural health as they move constantly every day for long stretches in their default head-down pose. It can cause wear and tear and degeneration of the long-term cervical spine. The need for spine surgery may also be caused by it.
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