In a 2021 survey, 85% of adults in the United States reported going online at least once a day. Of these individuals, 32% of women and 30% said they were almost constantly online. This could mean they spend almost all their waking hours staring at screens.
Negative Effects of too much screen time:
That’s no doubt a perfect example of too much screen time. Unfortunately, prolonged use of digital devices can give rise to numerous health conditions.
To that end, we created this list of the negative effects of overusing electronics. Read on as there’s a lot of them that you definitely would want to avoid.
- Computer Vision Syndrome
Computer vision syndrome affects an estimated 50% of computer users. Also known as digital eye strain (DES), CVS can cause a wide array of vision issues, such as dry eyes. It can also lead to eye redness, itchiness, and fatigue, and even headaches.
Looking at your phone and other devices all the time can cause CVS, as these activities make you blink less. A healthy, normal blink rate is about 15 times per minute, but staring at screens can cut that in half. The thing is, blinking is essential to eye health as it helps spread tears and moisturize the eyes.
2. Increased Risk of Being Sedentary
If you’re always using electronics or staring at screens, you most likely do so while seated. Prolonged sitting, in turn, may put you at risk of chronic diseases like diabetes. It can also lead to impaired balance and even digestive issues.
Many digital device users also experience neck, shoulder, and back pain. For starters, prolonged digital device use can make you keep your neck bowed for long periods. This excessive curvature can then result in painful spinal misalignment.
3. Poor Posture
Researchers found that musculoskeletal problems are common in computer and internet users. Aside from prolonged sitting times, these individuals also tend to have poor posture. Similar to being sedentary, poor posture can also make the spine misaligned.
4. Impaired Sleep
Device screens emit blue light that can apparently impair the body’s melatonin production. Melatonin, in turn, is a crucial hormone that regulates and prepares the body for sleep. The body starts to produce it as soon as it turns dark.
By disrupting melatonin production, digital devices can then affect your sleeping habits. Using blue light glasses may work for some people, but few studies confirm their efficacy. Your best bet is to stop using your electronic devices at least one hour before your usual bedtime.
5. Sleep-Related Health Woes
The more time you spend staring at screens, the harder you may find it to fall and stay asleep. This can then result in chronic sleep deprivation or deficiency. Studies revealed that 7% to 19% of US adults say they don’t get adequate rest or sleep every day.
Over time, sleep deprivation or deficiency can put you at risk of chronic diseases. These include heart and kidney diseases, hypertension, stroke, and even depression. Moreover, people who always lack sleep tend to have higher accident rates.
6. Too Much Screen Time Is Unhealthy
As you can see, too much screen time can affect you from head to toe and from inside to out. There are too many health risks linked with the overuse of digital devices, so as early as now, do your best to cut back! You can start as early as tonight by turning your screens off at least one hour before you slip under the covers.
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