8 Features | December 2020
Image created by Natalie Delgado
Screentime’s Scary Truth Does an increase in screen time tie in with an increase in health issues? Natalie Delgado| Features editor Thatcher Hoch | staff writer Over the last 4 decades, technology revolutionized our daily lives. From instantaneous communication to a movie just a click away. Because of advancements in technology, the amount of time spent looking at screens has increased over the last two decades. For example, in earlier years the only capability a phone had was to call. According to the first-quarter 2018 Nielsen Total Audience Report, “American adults spend over 11 hours per day listening to, watching, reading, or generally interacting with media.” Modern technology has not only given us many useful resources, but it’s also given us another thing to worry about. Too much screen time is a growing concern in both children and adults. There are various ways that too much screen time can negatively affect your health including chronic pain and vision issues. According to Julia Dellitt, health and wellness consultant for Advent Health, an excess
amount of screen time can lead to physical pain in your neck, back, spine, muscles, nerves, ligaments, wrists, fingers, and even forearms. Unnatural positions that one puts its body in — for texting, watching tv, or gaming — lead to strain on your muscles, nerves, and ligaments. You might have experienced cramping in your hands. One of the most concerning aspects of screen time is the issues one may experience with their vision. Over a survey of over 2,000 people, two-thirds of that survey said the first thing they do in the morning is subject their eyes to their phone screen. Make sure you’re tracking how much screen time you take in. Over the years the use of computers has increased and staring at a computer screen all day long is much more common. According to Optometrist Dr. Karen Stephens, generally after spending extended periods looking at a screen people experience “computer vision syndrome.” Symptoms include
eyes fatigued, strained, really dry, red, watery, and headaches. Senior Kallie Millison says “I spend a lot of time looking at screens and also at night. I’m not as active and my eyes sometimes hurt.” It is not a secret that screentime is wearing out our eyes, but is it changing our eyes? According to Dr. Karen Stephens, “ eyesight isn’t changing, but side effects are prevalent.” And according to ophthalmologist Ashley Brissette, “there is no known permanent damage to the eyes from prolonged screen use.” Stephens says the best way to deal with screen time is to limit your time or step away every two hours. “ 20-20-20 strategy, every 20 minutes look 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce eye strain.” Read a book, or go for a walk, to give your eyes a chance to rest. Using your phone before bed could be a very tempting thing, however, you may not understand the certain circumstances that come with using
your phone before going to bed. Using your phone before going to bed could interfere with suppressing your production of melatonin, which is a natural hormone that is released during the evening that helps you feel tired and gets your body ready for sleep. What you may not know is that, when the sun rises in the morning, your body produces cortisol, which wakes up your brain, helping energize your body. Some studies show that most lights also suppress melatonin, like household lights and lamps. That’s why it’s best to sleep with all lights off. One thing that causes this is blue light. Blue light is everywhere, reaching from outdoors to the tv you have, the sun is the biggest producer of blue light we have. Along with LED and fluorescent lights in buildings. Blue light rays iare the reason why the sky seems blue to our eyes. Blue light blocking tech-
