Computer and your health

Can spend too much time in front of a computer lead to some health problems? What are the risks?

Experts say that anything in excess is bad. The same is true with computers. Use them for long periods per day can lead to fatigue, tiredness, dizziness, headaches and a host of other health problems.

This was revealed by Dr. Arthur Frank pf mt. Sinai School of Medicine who has studied the problems associated with the machines of screen and keyboard of your computer.

Studio two-and-a-half-year Frank covered computer users more than a thousand employees of United Press Inter ★ national, Associated Press and newspapers in St. Louis, Memphis, Toronto, Vancouver, Honolulu and New York City.

Compared to non-users, Frank said that computer users suffered more from blurred vision, eyestrain, neck, shoulder and back pain. Those who have worked more often with computers were also more irritable, had trouble sleeping and felt overworked than other employees.

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) are also becoming common with computer workers. This is characterized by swollen fingers, sore wrists and disabling of the hand, arm and neck pain.

“Disturbing as these relationships can be, many of the risks associated with computer use can be prevented,” according to Martin Wong, a technical consultant for Distributed Processing Systems Inc.

“To learn the most common causes of computer anxiety and make some fundamental changes in their place of work and work habits, most people can avoid joining the growing ranks of victims of the computer revolution,” Wong added.

To prevent computer-related problems, Wong suggests the following:

Work in a convenient location where everything you need is easy to reach.

When you are working continuously to your computer, take a break of 15 minutes every hour.

Not to exceed 10,000 to 12,000 keystrokes (approx. 1,700 words) per hour.

When you examine the documents, use a copy stand. Make sure that the document you’re looking at is as high as your computer screen.

Glare reflected from the screen can quickly lead to eyestrain. To reduce the glare, Consumer Reports said that you should:

Arrange your workspace so that neither eyes nor face screen directly in a window or a lamp.

Arrange the lighting so it is directly above the computer.

Keep the light level moderate, not brilliant.