I often write about the need for digital detox, about the fact that excessive use of gadgets spoils the quality of sleep and harms psychological health: our relationships with other people are “deformed”, the feeling of happiness and self-esteem are reduced. And recently I found material on the physical hazards associated with digital devices.
Here are seven real physical consequences that can arise from using electronic devices for too long. Do not forget about them, sitting up with a phone in your hands.
1. Cyber disease
It is also called digital seasickness. Symptoms range from headache to nausea and can occur when scrolling quickly on a smartphone or watching dynamic videos on the screen.
This sensation arises from a mismatch between sensory inputs, Stephen Rauch, medical director told The New York Times. Massachusetts Eye and Ear Libra and Admission assessment Center, professor of otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School. Digital motion sickness can happen to anyone, although research shows that women are more likely to suffer from it than men. Those who suffer from migraines are also more susceptible to it.
2. “Text claw”
Tireless authors of posts and all kinds of texts are often overtaken by a “text claw” – this is the informal name for pains and cramps in fingers, wrists and forearms after intensive use of a smartphone. Any physical activity can cause pain in the tendons and muscles if a particular job is performed repeatedly, so if you do not let go of the phone, then you will surely experience discomfort in your hands and forearms.
To prevent this pain from occurring, you need to shorten the time you use the devices. But there are ways to relieve this pain, even if for some reason you can’t get away from your smartphone for a long time. Massage, stretching, warming and cooling can help.
3. Visual fatigue
Are you staring at the screen for hours on end? Any activity that requires active use of vision – driving, reading and writing – can cause eye fatigue. Using digital devices for extended periods of time can lead to eye inflammation, irritation and dryness, headaches and fatigue, which in turn can reduce our productivity.
In most cases, eye strain is not a serious problem and can be corrected with “screen interruptions”. Experts suggest taking a break of 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Take a look around the room or look out the window. If you feel dry eyes, use moisturizing drops.
4. “Text neck”
Like text claw, text neck syndrome – discomfort in the neck and spine – occurs when you spend a long time looking at your smartphone.
Of course, we live in an era of smartphone obsession. And according to experts, the angle at which our heavy heads are tilted down, forces the spine to support a weight of approximately 27 kilograms. Habit can cause your spine to need medical attention at a young age. Thinking about how much your neck bends when you look at the phone and returning to an upright position can help reduce the risk of neck and spine diseases.
5. Problems with sperm
According to some scientific evidence, heat from tablets and laptops can damage sperm. One study published in the journal Fertility and SterilityThe researchers found that storing sperm samples under a laptop reduced their motility, or the sperm’s ability to move, and led to extensive DNA damage – both factors that could reduce the chances of reproduction.
6. Car accidents
Pedestrian fatalities in car accidents are becoming more common because too many smartphone users are distracted and do not follow the road (sometimes this also applies to drivers). While in the virtual world, many of us lose a sense of reality in the physical world: researchers argue that a pedestrian distracted by the phone takes longer to cross the street, such a pedestrian pays less attention to traffic signals and the traffic situation in general.
7. Overeating
The phone itself does not lead to overeating, but it has a negative impact on our eating habits. Studies show that viewing beautiful pictures of high-calorie foods can trigger food cravings and increase appetite. If you fall into this food trap, unsubscribe from the accounts from which you receive these provocative photos.
If you feel that it is difficult for you to restrict the use of gadgets, you may need to go through a digital detox.