Digitillnesses is a general term that describes various diseases or conditions associated with the use of digital technologies, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. As sad as it may sound, our gadgets bring not only benefits but also obvious harm to our health.
AdmiGram.com will not tell you how harmful it is to use gadgets uncontrollably. Today, we will focus on how to maximize your protection. After all, in today’s world, a modern person simply cannot communicate and exist normally without gadgets.
Digitillnesses: how to use gadgets and stay healthy
Aching wrist or finger – the impact of keyboards, mice, and smartphones
© Dushawn Jovic / Unsplash
The most common of the “new” gadget fan diseases is carpal tunnel syndrome. It often affects people who type large volumes of text, constantly scroll, or actively use a keyboard and mouse or gamepad. All this leads to numbness of the fingers and pain in the hand. If the pain is in the tendons, it is already tendonitis.
How to protect yourself: preventing carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis is easier than treating it. You need to take breaks every half an hour. In addition, simple exercises are helpful: shake your hands, make fists, use an expander.
Worsening vision – the harm of constant eye focusing on the screen
© Eliott Reyna / Unsplash
Any screen is a source of many small details that you have to focus on. The worst part is that our eye muscles do not work properly as they should in normal life. Focusing at the same distance to the phone or computer screen, our eye muscles atrophy, which leads to at least nearsightedness.
How to protect yourself: do eye exercises. Ideally, take a break for at least 5 minutes every hour to give your eyes a rest. It is recommended to look away from the screen, blink several times, and focus on objects located far away.
Excess weight, back pain – sedentary lifestyle
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The internet has broken down boundaries and connected people. On the flip side, we sit too much. And the first thing to suffer from this is our spine. Neglected neck problems lead to dizziness, blood pressure issues, and headaches. Another common ailment is obesity. Not only do we move very little, but our eating habits are also lacking.
How to protect yourself: get up and move. You can’t burn calories by sitting on a chair. Stop munching on chips while watching a movie, drinking cola while gaming, and eating pizza while scrolling through social media.
It’s becoming harder to remember things or keep them in your head – limited brain atrophy
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The internet always has the answer to our question. And why bother remembering anything when it’s easier to Google it. Our brain seems to get used to this, reducing neuronal connections. This not only affects our memory but also other abilities that determine the ‘speed’ of our brain.
How to protect yourself: read books, learn poetry, play chess, study foreign languages. Cut down on watching pointless videos. Try to spend less leisure time with gadgets.
Don’t feel like talking to anyone and just want to sit alone – internet addiction
© Campbell / Unsplash
Dependency on social networks or online games is a serious disorder. A person seems to be just spending time online: shopping, gaming, liking videos. But in reality, they’ve already dipped one foot into serious addiction. And if a person has nothing meaningful besides the virtual world, they start to seriously move into that nonexistent world.
How to protect yourself: find something that excites you in real life. Get some aquarium fish, or even better, a dog. You need something to distract you from virtual reality.
image on top: Rasheed Kemy / Unsplash
