We can’t imagine a world without technology. Actually, we don’t want a world without technology! It’s convenient and we may just as well admit it: we are all in some or other way in love with and addicted to it.

Now the question is: Is technology actually good for us? Is technology making us healthier or sicker?

The truth is that for all its good, there’s a bad side to technology. That doesn’t mean we have to burn all forms of technology and get out the candles. As with all good things in life the answer lies in balance and awareness

Here are a few of the not-so-good side-effects of technology:

Obesity

The increasing amount of time people spend using computers, playing video games and watching TV is a major factor in the rising rates of obesity worldwide.

Obesity itself is a disease that opens the gates for many more conditions. Obesity threatens to cause cardiovascular problems, sleep issues, depression, diabetes and some cancers, all because of an inactive lifestyle of which screen gadgets form a huge contributory factor.

Panic attacks

“Nomophobia” − short for “no-mobile-phone phobia” − is a term accepted and used by many psychologists. For many people the fear of being without a mobile device, or beyond mobile phone contact is a reality. This condition is likened to addictions such as gambling.

Some self-help methods for people suffering from nomophobia are:

    • Getting informed as much as possible about nomophobia, the first step in overcoming the fear of disconnection
    • Avoiding negative thoughts because a negative train of thought can invoke the phobia
    • Practising relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga and muscle relaxation that can help you deal with the emotional and physical symptoms of a severe phobia.

Weak sperm

Wi-fi signals could potentially damage sperm, leading to fertility issues in men. Scientists note that more research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn, but in the meantime it would be a good idea for guys to keep devices off their laps.

Computer vision syndrome

Staring at a computer screen for hours at a time isn’t doing your eyes any favours, in fact doing so can lead to computer vision syndrome, with symptoms such as eyestrain, headaches and blurred vision. Computer vision syndrome is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries at work. It occurs when you’re carrying out the same motion over and over again.

The following activities will prevent the development of CVS:

    • Make sure the lighting in the room is comfortable on the eyes and prevents you from staring into glare on the computer screen
    • Position the digital display so that your head is in a naturally comfortable position
    • Take regular breaks from the computer.

Texting thumb

Hand specialists report a rise in inflammation and infection of the thumbs due to an increase in cell phone and computer use. Warning signs of the condition include tingling or numbness

It can affect any finger or even involve the wrist. However, most of us know it as the thumb pain and often stiffness that arises after hours of texting on a mobile phone or playing a video game.

Some ways to address this are:

    • Stop the texting. Try to break the habit of long hours of texting without a break
    • Ice your thumb for soft tissue injuries. Icing should be done for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day
    • Immobilise the thumb so that you do not use it at all for a few days. Many different types of wrist and hand braces are specially designed to immobilise the thumb
    • Change your texting finger. Even if it is just for one or two days, texting with an alternate finger can give your thumb the rest it needs to heal
    • Do regular finger exercises.

Sleep problems

Using bright electronics like cell phones, tablets and e-readers right before bedtime can interfere with your sleeping pattern. Studies have shown that people who are reading on an iPad find it harder to fall asleep. And, when they did, they experienced less REM sleep and didn’t feel alert in the morning. Those who used an iPad before bed had a 90-minute delayed release of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Another problem is that the light from electronic devices confuses our internal clock.

The best way to get better sleep is to turn off the technology, especially in the sanctity of your bedroom.

Text neck

Humans were designed to stand up straight − yet many of us are hunched over computers and looking down at our mobile phones with our necks bent. There’s even a name for that hunched-over look, it’s called “text neck”.

Text neck is becoming an epidemic. The human head weighs approximately 4 kg. If you lean 15 degrees forward, it’s as if your head weighed 12 kilogram. When you’re hunched over at a 60-degree angle, as most of us are many times throughout the day, you’re putting a 27 kilogram strain on your neck. All that weight puts extra pressure on discs in the neck and spine.

But you don’t need to let this happen. Try the following:

    • Lift your phone to eye level rather than staring down at a screen. That way there’s no added pressure from bending the neck downwards. Alternatively, you can look down at your phone with your eyes rather than bending your neck
    • Just put the phone down. If the previous step is too awkward, simply don’t use your smartphone as much. Many of the tasks performed on a smartphone can also be done on desktop-based apps
    • Take a load off. For those who spend long periods of time on their phones, it’s important to take breaks. A good rule of thumb is to take a five-minute pause for every 15 minutes of smartphone use, and this one goes for tablet and laptops users too.
    • Stretch. Simple stretching exercises can make muscles and tendons happy again after a long texting session.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity

We are surrounded by wireless communications. Most people do not even notice them. However, for some people exposure to electromagnetic fields is making them ill.

Symptoms range from acute headaches and skin burning to muscle-twitching and chronic pain.

The best way to mitigate symptoms is to avoid exposure to them. Don’t use a mobile or cordless phone, don’t use Wi-Fi and avoid public areas that offer wireless access.

There are also a few other things you can do to limit the effects:

    • Intestinal care − make sure you’re getting plenty of healthy probiotics
    • Regular detoxification programmes − reducing your toxic burden has become far more important than it ever was before. Not only are you dealing with increasing amounts of toxic chemicals in your environment, your body is full of microorganisms that respond to electromagnetic fields (EMF) by generating increased levels of their own toxins
    • Beware of mold. Mold, just like other microorganisms, can also react in high EMF environments.

 

Sources
http://www.rd.com/health/conditions/technology-sick/
http://www.theblot.com/is-technology-making-us-sick-7739837
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/255081.php

Can Technology Make Us Sick?

http://www.best-emf-health.com/electromagnetic-hypersensitivity.html