How High-Tech Gadgets Threaten Your Health
The computer revolution has enriched our lives with new ways of working, sharing information, and having fun. Sure, these gadgets and devices make life easier and more exciting, but according to the recent studies, technology poses many threats to our health. Here are just some ways high-tech lifestyle may hurt you.
Eyestrain, tired eyes, irritation, redness, blurred vision, and double vision – all these symptoms describe computer vision syndrome provoked by spending much time in front of the computer screen. Naturally, this isn’t a permanent condition; but persistent eyestrain can provoke infection.
Spending too much time in front of the screen is also associated with insomnia – be it the monitor of your computer or TV set.
In addition, the constant tiny movements needed to operate a mouse or type irritate tendons; swelling presses on nerves. As little as a half hour a day of these movements could put you at risk for pain in your shoulder, forearm, or hand.
It’s not late-breaking news that there’s a much more direct relationship between obesity and spending too much time glued to the screen.
iPods or other digital music players are also believed to pose some risks to our health. Studies show that listening to music through headphones can increase the risk of hearing loss. The problem is that people not only listen to music through headphones too loudly, but also do it for a prolonged time. Exposure to loud noise for hours every day can actually permanently destroy cells in the inner ear.
So, as new gadgets and gismos evolve very rapidly, designers don’t have enough time to care about safety of their inventions. Until these devices are perfected, let’s take care to make sure that our health is safe.