The Flip Side of Computing

A computer has become an indispensable tool in not only our work, but even our home environment today. No longer an extravagance, computers have become a crucial constituent of our everyday life, for most of us. This is a sign of our changing culture, but then this variation has merged beautifully in our current life style. Nevertheless, just as we can hurt ourselves by misusing drugs and alcohol, we can harm our health by overusing or abusing our computers too. In fact there is a very menacing side of computing. Here, we are not deliberating about hackers or viruses, but we are talking about the physical harm which computers can do to our body. And mind it these risks are so grave, that any one who reads about them could even decide to do away with his computer for the rest of his life.

However, that is not the solution. Any one today, who wants to move with time, has to make computers a part and parcel of his life. But, for the sake of our individual safety it's important that each of us pay attention to all the effects this tool has on us, restrained, apparent or somewhere amid. A good way to begin is to study your own computer environment and determine how it's contributing to your health.

Computers can have a variety of effects on those of us who use them. The first class of effects includes clear physical effects - ailments of the eyes, skin, muscles and joints. The second class of consequences is thought to be caused by the electromagnetic fields produced by computer monitors and other video display terminals. These radiations are potent enough to cause cancerdefine and even spontaneous abortions in pregnant women.

Some of the disturbing threats which computers inflict are identified below:
• Spending long hours at the keyboard can create serious and permanent problems in the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand and can become squeezed at the wrist, causing carpel tunnel syndrome.
• Extended sessions at a computer can cause fatal blood clots, especially if you spend a lot of time in a confined position.
• Computer vision syndrome is another side effect of excessive computer usage which causes frequent headaches, dryness in the eyes, watering and blurring of vision, sensitivity to light and tiredness at the end of the day.
• Using a mouse can lead to musculoskeletal disorders which can cause soreness on the top of the hand, around the wrist and along the forearm and elbow.
• Another hidden danger is the toner, the substance used in a laser printer. The dust like particles can be as dangerous and can cause a high-tech version of black lung disease.
• Lower back pain, can also be a problem if the computer user has poor posture and leans forward while sitting.
• Skin problems due to the substantiated effect of electromagnetic radiationdefine is also a very forceful vulnerability and it causes dermatitis (red, irritated skin), so much so that it can even change the complexion of a person.

Minor changes in your computer habits can heavily reduce your risks of such ailments. Reshape your work place ergonomically. Avoid carpel tunnel syndrome through proper seating, adequate wrist, elbow, waist and feet angle. Use proper lighting and keep your monitor at least two feet away Maintain the correct posture. Use an anti glare screen to avoid skin problems. Avoid repetitive strain injuries by taking frequent breaks. Just get up and walk around.

In fact, I think I'll do that right now. I never knew writing a feature could be such a precarious pursuit.