Health Hazards of using computer

EDU 03 

         HEALTH HAZARDS OF USING COMPUTER 

 INTRODUCTION

      Computers have become so necessary to modern living that it is difficult to believe that they are a relatively recent invention.  We cannot live without computers, as they are involved in most of the everyday options. It is really hard to imagine a life without computers.  Students used computers to learn and teachers use computers in their teachings. All they need to do is just sit in a front of the monitor and click the mouse. Undoubtedly the computer has become an indispensable tool in our knowledge society. The amount of computer users has doubled in the past decade with more people trying to get their hands of a computer to make things easier for them.  Although computers have influenced teachers and children in a good way but there is a bad side to it too.  Computers have negatively effect on the environment, society and the people.  It also adversely affects the health of humans. If computers are not used properly and due to repetitive motion, computers make the society very inactive. Since people get addicted to it and using it too much leads them to miss out of their daily activities and such as exercises.  The main health hazards created by the computers are the following.,

1) COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME

     People blink their eyes more frequently while using a computer than they do at other times and that they face some problems. Situation such as over working in front of a computer, looking at the screen improperly or using a screen of a poor quality are likely to cause some illnesses like headaches, seeing double, eye strain, itching in eyes and bleary eyes.     Some people constantly and repeatedly do certain movements in front of a computer, they have the risk of Repetitive strain injury.  The symptoms of repetitive strain injury are pain and malfunction, that pain occurs with exhaustion at the beginning and disappears with the ease of work.

Tips

Use Your knowledge of ergonomics

Take rest when you feel tired

Use a monitor that holds a steady image without flickering

The screen should be kept 18-30 inches from ones or about an arm’s length.

2) REPATATIVE STRAIN INJURY(RSI)

     Some people constantly and repeatedly do certain movements in front of a computer, they have the risk of Repetitive Strain Injury.  The main symptoms are pain and malfunction, that pain occurs with exhaustion in the beginning and disappears with the ease of work.

Reasons for RSI

Working in one position for years

Work intensity

Ageing and loss of tissue resilience

Psychology and anatomy

RSI Treatment

Medication

Cold packs, elastic support or a splint

Physiotherapy

Steroid injections

Surgery

3) CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME(CTS)

     This is an illness caused by injuries that occurs due to force on the median nerve found on the wrist.  Its symptoms can occurs as tingling in hand, and fingers and the feeling of lethargy, sudden pain in wrist and arms and sometimes even in shoulders.  In the end it might result in being unable to grasp objects, evident impotence and weakness in the muscles controlled by the median.

Reasons for CTS

Long hours in the keyboards, especially those that type more than hours

Inadequate rest and breaks

Lack of circulation in the muscles that prevents nutrients and oxygen to reach the tissues

Poor diet (lack of vitamins)

Poor posture including the sitting, placement of hands on the keyboard and proper height of the keyboard

CTS Treatment

Rest, rest and more rest

Use of a wrist brace or splint

Take medication

Take vitamins

Keep hands warm, take breaks, exercise your hands and arms

Use your knowledge of ergonomics

Surgery

4) RADIATION

     Computer screen produce radiation of various types.  There has always been doubt that individuals will have illness such as headaches and inattentiveness if they are exposed to high rate of radiation for a long time.

Tips

Get off WIFI after use

Step away from your computer

Don’t get too close to low frequency radiation.

Don’t use radio communication facilities in your computer and network equipment

5) SLEEPING DISORDERS

     Overuse of computers is likely to cause sleeping disorders.  A computer addicted person who intended to sit in front of a computer for a short time, ends up with a long period of time and stays awake late at night. This situation causes the person with sleeping disorders.

Tips

Refrain from using a computer right before going to bed

Resort to reading a book or something to that degree prior to going to bed.

6) MUSCULO SKELETON PROBLEMS

         This includes areas of your body such as your back, neck, chest, arms, shoulders and feet.  Having sore muscles and complaints of the muscles being tired are common. Numbness may occur because the posture you assume when using the computer is most likely incorrect.

Tips

Adjust your chair and work table

Back rest for lumbar support

Take rest

7) HEADACHES

    Headaches are common and may occur because of the increased muscle tension or form pain in the neck.  Any vision problems or continued strain in the eyes can also cause headaches.

Tips

Attend regular eye exams in order to work toward correcting any eye disorders

Try your best to keep your neck straight in front of the computer and take breaks.

8) OBESITY

     Prolonged use of computers may lead to an overall sedentary lifestyle that lacks adequate physical activity or exercise.  In children prolonged use of computers or electronics in general is a major contributing factor to obesity.

Tips

Set limits for your children when they are using electronics

Encourage outdoor play or a certain hobby that may take away time spent using electronics in order to lead a more active lifestyle

As for adults if your occupation requires computer use for up to 8 hours daily, you should not use a computer again when you get home.

9) STRESS DISORDERS

    Technology impacts our behaviours and emotions.  Prolonged use of computers may be accompanied by poor health and increased pressure placed on you in your workplace environment, which could both leads to stress.  Stress can lead to decreased attention span, lack of concentration, dizziness and becoming easily burned out.

Tips

Promote your own health and prevent future health conditions or worsening the ones you already have by seeking treatment options for any stress that you may encounter

Try things from Yoga, to natural remedies, to medication as prescribed by a medical provider.

10) INCREASED RISK OF BLOOD CLOTS 

   

    Being immobile and not allowing your blood a chance to get moving around your extremities may cause it to pool, creating builds- up of blood cell that will eventually clot due to not being able to be circulated around. Blood clots can be life threatening if they break away from where they are lodged and travel to another area such as your lungs.

Tips 

Avoid crossing your legs when using a computer for an extended period of time.

Take many breaks and stretch your legs to get the blood flowing to decrease the chance of it pooling in your extremities

If you have to sit for an extended period, make sure to bend and move your extremities even while sitting because any little bit will help.

11) SKIN COMPLAINTS

        Long-time computer use can cause skin problems.  Such conditions include itching, rashes on the neck, face or hands, and dry skin.

Tips

Maintain a good distance from computer

Use some heat protection between the body and the computer

Stay hydrated

Use screen filters and possible LCD screens to reduce the radiation.

12) ADVERSE IMPACT ON BRAIN AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

The computer screen time may also adversely impact on the cognitive and brain development. Increased screen time has been associated with poorer language development and executive functioning, particularly in very young children.

Tips

Reduce the use of computers

Monitoring the computer usage by children

13) ARTHRISIS

It is a form of joint disorder, that involves inflammation of one or more joints.  Constantly texting in keyboards cause this horrible disease.

Tips

Lift your laptop

Find a keyboard that’ll keep your wrists happy

Add other adaptive equipment as needed

Give your brain and body the breaks they need

14) LAPTOP USE INJURIES

The continuous use of laptops that continue to cause more pain and strain among those individuals who use them. Lap top are designed for short periods of use for those do not have access to desktop computer. In present day individuals choose to use laptops over desktop more frequently due to convenience. The problem is that the screen and keyboards are very close together and there is really no right way to use a laptop because if your position the screen at the right height for your back and neck, it will cause you to have to lift your arms and shoulders too high to use it and vice versa, it will cause problems in your body.

Tips

Use a desktop computer that is set up ergonomically correct for you as frequently as possible, only use a laptop computer

Use separate laptop equipment

As always take frequent breaks

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

Constant use of anything is going to lead to problems.  Computers are no different, and it could be argued that humans spend more times on it. We have seen the health issues that caused or exacerbated by computer use, and at the end we will look what you can do to keep these things from happening, or at least minimize them.

Find a correct height for both your desk and chair so that your computer screen is at eye level or slightly lower.

Sit with your back straight. Legs at 90 degrees angles to the floor and feet resting on the floor.

Always take small breaks from your computer work to stretch your muscles, keep your blood flowing and to rest your eyes.

Make sure to adjust the brightness on your computer.

Maintain a proper vision distance from the screen.

Keep your wrists flexible when typing.

Try your best to keep your neck straight in front of the computer and take breaks.

Refrain from using a computer right before going to bed.

Take many breaks and stretch your legs to get the blood flowing to decrease the chance of it pooling in your extremities.

CONCLUSION

Computers are inevitable in our modern world.  They have shaped a new world in education and entertainment and would continue to be an integral part of our lives.  However, prolonged usage of computers can result in undesirable health issues.  These can be safeguarded against by a balanced approach.  Having good ergonomic workplace, maintaining healthy sitting postures and having frequent small breaks from the computer are the key to maintaining health and improving workplace productivity. Observing certain standard precautions and practices as mentioned above is the best way to minimize the negative health effects of computer usages.

REFERENCES

Sumitra Arora -Informatics Practices

www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

www.regiscollege.edu

www.thehealthsite.com

www.aarogya.com