Technological health risks

With all this technology comes the inevitable health scares – some unproven, but some proven.

Hours sitting in front of a computer or TV can be bad for your back, not to mention your eyes. Blasting out music into your headphones is obviously bad for your ears. Repeatedly texting on your mobile phone has resulted in cases of repetitive strain injury. And all this technology takes us away from the fundamentals of good health: exercise, healthy eating and (face-to-face) social interaction.

According to Australian Hearing, almost 70% of 18 to 24-year-olds and 72% of 25 to 34-year-olds suffer from ringing in their ears, known in the medical world as tinnitus. And the most common cause of this is music – either through headphones or live at concerts.

Hunching over a computer for hours on end is not only bad for your health it’s a possible life-limiter. Good posture at the desk and a comfortable and supportive chair are paramount.

“We evolved to be upright and mobile,” Dr Patrick Sim, spokesman for the Chiropractors Association of Australia, told Body+Soul. “The more hunched you are after the age of 60, the more your risk of death increases because the heart and lungs are compressed, reducing oxygen and blood flow.”
 

A recent Australian study proved a link between cardiovascular disease and spending hours in front of the TV. The short story is: watching TV means you’re sedentary, and sedentary is bad for your health. 

Researchers from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne monitored the TV viewing habits of 8,000 adults over six years. They found that someone who watches four hours of TV a day has an 80% higher risk of death from heart disease compared to someone who watches less than two hours.

There has been plenty of scaremongering about the potential health risks associated with mobile phones ever since they first emerged.

The Cancer Council’s website explains that chemicals, known as carcinogens, cause cancer, but mobile phones have an ‘unknown carcinogenic risk’ which remains to be established.
 

So, there is no definitive answer. Anyone who’s concerned should limit their exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic energy by using a hands-free kit.

• Turn down the volume coming through your headphones to a level where you can still hear someone at arm’s length, without them having to shout.
• Excessive sitting in front of a TV or computer can cause dry eyes, as the tendency is to blink less. Use eye drops and take regular breaks.
• Incorporate a walk and some fresh air into your day.
• Limit the amount of time you and your family spend in front of the TV.

This post forms part of Light Home’s mini-series on creating a healthy home.

Last week, we kicked off the series with a post about the importance of plants in the home. Keep checking in for the forthcoming instalments.