The prolonged use of smartphones and laptops endangers the health of users: neck, eyes and back the most affected parts
They are called pathologies 2.0. We are talking about all those diseases caused by smartphones, tablets and personal computers. The world of work forces us more and more to use technological devices to stay connected with every part of the world, every single minute of our lives.
Every week we spend at least between fifty and sixty hours in front of a screen. In most cases we don’t even realize it, but we isolate ourselves from the rest of the world by focusing our eyes on our smartphone or tablet. An isolation that only worsens the relationship with our best friends and co-workers. But devices have not only worsened the bonds between people, but very often they are the main cause of the onset of quite painful diseases. What at the beginning of the article we called pathologies 2.0.
Neck pain, fatigue and blurred vision, neck pain, back inflammation, drops in concentration, carpal tunnel and poor quality of rest. This is a small list of all the diseases that prolonged computer use can generate. Presented as true saviors of the country that would simplify people’s work, computers, smartphones and tablets have proven to be harmful to people’s health, especially for those who stare at a screen for 12,13 hours a day. Such prolonged use of devices not only causes significant stress, but also decreases concentration and worsens intellectual abilities. Here are some tips on how to combat the diseases caused by prolonged use of smartphones, tablets and notebooks.
Back and Hand Problems
Working more than four hours a day in front of a personal computer causes serious joint problems and back inflammation that is difficult to treat. In most cases, back problems are caused by the incorrect position we assume in front of the computer or while we are using the smartphone. Having the neck perpetually lowered does nothing but load the weight of the body on the upper back with consequences that could also lead to the onset of diseases such as herniated discs or scoliosis.
Another part of the body that suffers from prolonged computer use is the hands. Constantly tapping the keyboard can lead to tendon inflammation or, more likely, carpal tunnel.
You can prevent inflammation of the back and tendons of the hands by using specially developed tools. For example, you can use a notebook stand that raises the device and allows us to better distribute the weight of our body. As for the joints of the hands, however, you can buy an ergonomic keyboard and mouse.
Smartphones decrease our ability to concentrate
One of the features of technological devices is the ability to do several things at once. Thanks to mutitasking, you can answer an email while listening to music or talking to your friend. Some scientific studies, however, have shown that the human brain is not multitasking and can only process one thing at a time. Doing two or more things at once negatively affects a person’s ability to store information. Not only are the tasks performed worse, but the person can’t even remember what they did.
Another factor that negatively affects the user’s ability to concentrate is the prolonged use of devices at night. It has been scientifically proven that the blue lights of the displays do not allow the development of melatonin, which is fundamental in the quality of a person’s sleep. A lower quantity of melatonin produced, causes a loss of sleep hours and can lead to the onset of diseases such as diabetes, depression and obesity.
It may seem trite to say, but the only way to prevent these diseases is to decrease the number of hours we spend in front of computers. Two hours of rest a day can make all the difference: going to the park to take a walk or relaxing by doing your favorite hobby can decrease stress and improve the quality of your life.
The only way to prevent these diseases is to reduce the number of hours we spend in front of computers.