7 Ways That Technology Causes Health Issues

In today’s world, we are faced with technology almost everywhere we go. While it adds convenience to our daily lives, these seemingly harmless devices can end up causing a lot of future health concerns. Phones, computers, and headphones are just some of the things that can eventually lead to bigger problems. Check out these more common issues, then turn off the technology for a while, giving your mind and body the breaks they deserve.

Acne

Between e-mailing, texting, social media, and the countless number of available apps, our fingers are almost constantly on our phones. The oils and bacteria that accumulate on your hands throughout the day transfer to your phone’s screen, then wind up on your face when you make a phone call. All that gunk can mean skin issues for you.

Try to make a habit of washing your hands regularly or using hand sanitizer throughout the day. By doing that and by wiping your screen down on a consistent basis, you will greatly up your odds of staying acne-free.

Stress

It has been shown that technology increases stress levels. When we become dependent on a device, it is easy to get frustrated when it malfunctions and keeps you from maintaining productivity. Whether it is at work or home, a crashed computer can make the difference in whether or not you get work done.

On top of that, anxiety levels tend to increase as we find ourselves always waiting for responses. When no one comments on the photo that was posted to social media or responds to the text that was sent two hours ago, we wonder why and begin to overanalyze. Put the phone away and focus on something else.

Lower Attention Span

Social media offers a constant flow of information as to what other people are currently doing. Because of this, we find ourselves constantly grabbing our phones to check up on things and refresh news feeds.

This decreases our ability to focus on one thing for a long period of time. We get used to the constant change of pace and are always thinking ahead to what the next story is going to be. Decrease your dependency on social media by concentrating on what is in front of you.

Hearing Loss

Headphones are great for maintaining your own productivity, without bothering those around you. The problem is, the volume levels often get abused, leaving those who use them on a regular basis with increased chances of future hearing problems.

While cranking up the tunes and jamming out is a favorite pastime of many, the high levels of volume could leave you hurting in the future. Give your ears a break by turning the volume down and minimizing your time with headphones in.

Headaches

If you are finding that you have headaches on a regular basis, too much screen time may be a leading cause. The strain that is put on your eyes by the bright screens leads to tension headaches, causing you a day filled with discomfort.

Be sure that you are taking breaks from your screen on a regular basis to help your mind function more regularly. This especially goes for office workers, who often get stuck staring at their work computer for hours on end. Get outside when you can or take a walk over your lunch to give your mind and body that break they deserve.

Vision Impairment

You end up putting a lot of strain on your eyes when you expose them to screens on a consistent basis. Many eye problems can arise when you find yourself staring at a computer or phone all day. Blurred vision, dry eyes, and double vision are just some of the problems that occur.

Changing the lighting on your screen can help a lot in easing the strain on your eyes. Also, watch out for glares that could be bouncing off of your screen and stressing out your sockets. Most importantly, give your eyes a break by getting away from the screens regularly throughout the day.

Neck Issues

Your posture can suffer a lot due to extensive use of technology. Between sitting at a computer desk, looking down at a phone all the time, and decreased physical activity (thus an increase in weight gain), many end up adding excessive pressure to their neck and spine.

As time passes, more and more young people are finding themselves with neck and back issues, due to an increased dependency on technology. It is smart to limit the time spent on these devices to help ensure that your body is getting the regular movement that it needs to stay in top shape.