Even at the beginning of the century, the presence of a computer in our apartments was a rarity, and the equipping of office premises with these useful devices was just beginning. Today, almost every home has a computer (and often more than one), and every second of our compatriots is a regular user. The convenience and efficiency of personal computers is undeniable, but people who work with them on a daily basis should also be aware of the potential health hazards.
What is the danger of sitting at the monitor for many hours?
The risk group in terms of specific "computer" ailments includes office workers who are forced to spend whole days in front of personal devices, and people who do not know how to limit themselves in computer games or online communication (including children and adolescents). Most of them eventually develop such diseases:
- posture disorders, scoliosis, arthrosis of the cervical and lumbar spine, lumbago. These ailments are the result of prolonged sitting in an uncomfortable position. They are manifested by pain in the back and neck, stiffness of movements. Often there are obsessive headaches;
- carpal tunnel syndrome. In cases where the hands lie on the table for hours in the same position, the gap between the ulna and radius in the wrist area narrows and the median nerve is pinched. Symptoms – numbness of the hands, discomfort in the fingers, increasing pain. This ailment has been known for a long time, but it only became widespread during the growing popularity of personal devices. According to some reports, today every sixth active computer user suffers from it;
- thrombosis of the lower extremities, dysfunctions of the reproductive system, hemorrhoids. The computer equipment of offices helps to work faster and more efficiently than a few decades ago. The employee no longer needs to get up from the table or look for documents in the cabinets: all these actions have been replaced with a few clicks of the mouse button. According to research, most office workers today move 3-4 times less often at work than before. This leads to stagnation of blood in the pelvic area and the risk of developing a number of diseases;
- vision problems. Firstly, a person who constantly peers at the monitor blinks too rarely. Because of this, the mucous membranes of the eyes cannot properly moisturize and dry out. Computer users often complain of discomfort when blinking, burning sensation and itching in the eyes. With prolonged work, pain and heaviness occur above the eyebrows. Secondly, overstrain of the eye muscles when working at the monitor leads to a decrease in visual acuity and the development of myopia.
The first models of personal computers were unsafe due to the intense electromagnetic radiation of the screens, which may have a carcinogenic effect. For modern monitors, this parameter is significantly reduced, however, according to some experts, numerous cables and wires, as well as system units, can pose a danger. However, the property of such radiation to provoke the development of malignant neoplasms has not yet been proven.
But the fact that a workplace equipped with a personal computer can become a source of infection with pathogens is considered confirmed. Keyboard and mouse surfaces quickly become dirty, pathogens of various diseases begin to multiply on them.
How to stay healthy without giving up working at the computer?
Let's be fair: the cause of the problems is not the mere fact of the existence of personal computers, but non-compliance with the rules for working with them.
To protect yourself, the user must follow a few simple rules:
- when working at a computer, you need to take breaks every 40-45 minutes. During a break, it is useful to walk, do a few exercises (turns of the torso, tilts, etc.), stretch and relax the hands, do gymnastics for the eyes;
- The monitor should be positioned at a distance of 50–60 cm from the face and tilted so that the user sees the image slightly from above. It is necessary to adjust the lighting of the workplace so that there are no glare on the screen. It makes sense from time to time to use eye drops that have a moisturizing effect;
- the height of the table and chair seat is selected in accordance with the height of the user and so that the hands lying on the table are not located at an angle to the forearm. The feet of the person sitting at the computer should rest completely on the floor;
- wires and cables should not be left around the workplace. Before cleaning the computer from dust, it is necessary to disconnect it from the mains;
- the surfaces of the mouse and keyboard should be regularly wiped with disinfectant solutions or wet wipes.
It is especially necessary to pay attention to children who prefer to spend most of the day at computers. Such behavior can not only indicate the presence of gambling or Internet addiction, but also threatens the early development of many of the diseases described.
According to experts, the ailments associated with the use of computers have already become much “younger”: today, signs of specific lesions of the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system and organs of vision are often observed in children under 14 years of age. Parents should do everything possible to interest children in sports or art circles, distract them from computers and minimize the harm that these devices can cause to children's health.
Source: neboleem.net
