Can Technology Make You Sick?

Smartphones, cell phones, laptops, tablets, portable music players, gaming consoles, and PCs are some of the many electronic gadgets that seem to make life more fun and easier for everybody. Even toddlers and grandmas are using them in different ways. They are useful not only for promoting social interaction or entertainment, but they have become indispensable even at work, in school, and even during emergencies and disaster management. In other words, we are forever hooked on them, and things can only get better, with more and more technologies being developed.

The recent technological revolution has brought so many changes in our ordinary lives like we never imagined. It has affected the job market, the way education is delivered, our communication systems, and so much more. It has brought great impact in many areas of our lives, including our relationships and our health. Some apps have even been designed to monitor health parameters such as weight loss.

Fortunately, most of these conditions are preventable and treatable, and it takes early recognition of how our use of our favorite gadgets can make us sick to help us take better care of our health.

Addiction to Technology

Psychologists and psychiatrists have observed that various types of behavior related to possible addiction to technology have taken over a lot of people. Some are said to have a condition called "nomophobia" (no-mobile-phone phobia), which makes them panic or feel desperate when separated from their smartphone. These people are not able to focus on work or conversations and they feel the need to constantly check their phones for notifications. Many individuals, especially young adults, even take their cell phones to bed with them. Some researchers have also noted a phantom cell phone vibration syndrome, a fairly common condition, where one believes that he often feels his phone vibrating in his pocket, only to find out that there are no calls or messages.

Experts say that these behaviors are similar to addictions that may be explained by an imbalance of a brain chemical(neurotransmitter) called dopamine.

When experienced repeatedly, the feeling becomes addicting, and one gets hooked on the gadget, which is the source of pleasure.

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This type of addiction can be dangerous, especially when one is driving and feels compelled to check his phone whenever he receives a notification. It can also hurt relationships when the behavior causes one to be inattentive to another person's presence. However, simple steps in behavior modification can improve one's addiction to technology, and these include not using the cell phone while driving, limiting its use when spending time with friends and family, and not taking it to bed or even the bathroom. Parents may also encourage their children to spend more time in physical activities and set time limits for using their gadgets.

Technology Induced Injuries

Musculoskeletal injuries related to the use of technology are now becoming more common. One of these is called the texting thumb, which involves inflammation of the tendon in the thumb (tendinitis). According to an orthopedic surgeon at the Jefferson University Hospital, this is caused by repeated use of the thumb when texting on a cell phone or using computers. Fortunately, the condition may be relieved by rest and physical therapy. Other people experience the cubital tunnel syndrome, also known as the "cell phone elbow," which occurs when people bend their elbows too tightly for long periods, causing damage to a nerve in the arm. This may be prevented by not bending the elbow at angles that are greater than 90º for long periods.

Chronic low back pain is one of the main reasons people visit their doctors for treatment. The most common cause is poor posture and ergonomics, which leads to slouching and exaggeration of the curves of the spine. Carpal tunnel syndrome, which involves inflammation of the nerve that runs through the wrist, may also result from doing long hours of repetitive work with a computer mouse and keyboard. Improving posture, taking short breaks, and applying proper ergonomics at work can help prevent and relieve symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders such as these. However, some people also need to use anti-inflammatory pain relievers and physical therapy when symptoms are not relieved by rest and other simple measures.

Computer Vision Syndrome

The American Optometric Association describes a condition called computer vision syndrome, which is a group of problems affecting the eyes and vision, that result from prolonged use of the computer. Many people experience vision problems and eye discomfort when using a computer for extended periods. Common symptoms include eyestrain, headache, blurring of vision, dry eyes, and pain in the shoulder and neck. Causes of these symptoms include poor lighting, computer screen glare, poor posture, improper viewing distance, and uncorrected problems in vision. To correct these problems, simple measures, such as improving one's posture and using proper ergonomics may help. It is also important to have a medical check-up to correct any visual problems and eye issues.

Male Infertility

Studies suggest that men who use laptops on their laps instead of placing them on a desk may develop problems in fertility.

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It was also found that this practice resulted in a decrease in sperm motility, which is important in the process of conception. It could also lead to DNA damage in the sperms, which can affect pregnancy outcomes. Scientists who conducted the study explain that electromagnetic radiation generated during wireless communication and heat exposure may cause the effects observed. They recommend that more studies be done on this matter and advise young men to avoid using their laps for working on their laptops.