Taking a Tech Break

There are many wonderful benefits of technology. You can see loved ones that live thousands of miles away, monitor your health, catch up with friends you haven't seen in years, find activities and events in your area and catch up on the news with the touch of a button. With all the great things technology has to offer there is also a down side. Too much screen time can cause, memory failure, emotional instability, strained vision and muscle and joint pain. 

Here is why you should take a break from technology. With technology always around it is difficult to unwind and set boundaries on your work communications. Drawing a line between work and your personal life allows your mind to recharge so you are refreshed for the next day at the office. It also relieves tension on personal relationships and allows you to focus on the present. 

Multitasking has been proven ineffective and decreases the likelihood of retaining the information we are processing. When you are constantly giving the projects in front of you half of your attention your performance level drops. When multitasking it is increasingly difficult to filter out irrelevant information and tasks. Multitasking actually takes longer than when you are focused on one thing at a time. In a 2011 study, ivy league students retailed facts and information more effectively when they knew they couldn't get them from the internet. 

Constantly being surrounded by social media and technology can also cause mental instabilities like anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, dangerous codependence and leaves no time for solitude. Social media can be especially dangerous to young impressionable minds. Comparing yourself to the people you see on the internet can set unrealistic expectations of how you should look and what your life should look like. It is also difficult because we typically only see the best life scenarios on social media. 

Too much screen time can also cause physical health problems. According to a 2008 survey by the American Optometric Association (AOA); "About 40% of optometrists’ patients experienced eye strain due to computer vision syndrome (conditions related to “near work”), while 45% complained of neck and back pain associated with computer or handheld device use". Posture while using cell phones and computers can also cause back and neck problems as well as pain in your wrists and fingers. Experts recommend limiting the time spent in front of a computer as well as cell phone usage. They also suggest being conscious of your posture and how you're positioning yourself while using these devices. 

If the first thing you do when you wake up is check your phone, try taking a technology break. Even if it is a few hours give your body and mind a break. Become comfortable by yourself. Try meditating or giving a new hobby a try. Find meaning connections in person with the important people in your life. To find out more ways to keep yourself and your family happy and healthy visit our website at www.oxborochiro.com. 

By: Julia Jacobson, Office Manager

Source: 

https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/internet-addiction/real-effects-technology-on-your-health/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2013/02/06/feeling-disconnected-5-reasons-to-unplug-from-technology-after-work/#4a60b67076ce

Cell Phone Use

Amanda Macmillan writes in her article titled, “Cell Phone Radiation May be Dangerous, California Health Officials Warn”, about the potential long-term harm that cell phones may cause. It is still unknown if the electromagnetic radiation that cell phones emit when they receive signals from towers or even WiFi devices could cause long-term damage. The California Department of Public Health has given some guidelines on how to reduce possible exposure of this electromagnetic radiation. Some of the health concerns with cell phone use include cancer risks, tumors in the salivary gland and acoustic nerve, lower sperm counts, headaches, and difficulties with learning, memory, hearing, behavior, and sleep. There have not been definite studies that directly link these health risks with radio frequency energy, which is the type of radiation that is emitted when cell phones are used, but the guidelines laid out by the California Department of Public Health can aid those who are looking to lower this possible risk. 

One of the guidelines suggested is to keep cell phones away from your body when they are not being used. Some suggestions include putting cell phones in a purse or backpack rather than your pocket or keeping phones away from you while sleeping. Headphones, headsets, or speakerphone rather than holding a phone next to your head may be helpful for reducing radiation. When cell phone signals are particularly weak for example when using buses or trains, or when streaming audio or videos, it is best to limit cell phone use. When signals are low, they can cause cell phones to emit higher levels of radio frequency energy. WiFi or Bluetooth devices connected to phones can also emit radio frequency energy. 

There are some devices out on the market that are specifically used to block radio frequency energy but the U.S. Federal Trade Commission states that these devices aren’t necessarily helpful and may even cause an increase in radio frequency energy because the phone is trying to work harder. Children are being exposed to cell phone use at an earlier age, 10 is now the most common age for children to get a phone. Studies have suggested that children being exposed to cell phones may experience hearing loss, possible ringing in ears, headaches, and overall decreased well-being. Cell phone radiation is identified as a possible carcinogen by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. In Italy, a man won a case that suggested his development of a brain tumor was due to his cell phone use for work over 15 years. Although there is possible risk with cell phone use, they can be beneficial in certain situations, particularly during emergencies according to the CDC. More research needs to be completed to determine the long-term safety of cell phones.

To find out more ways to keep yourself safe and healthy, please visit our website at www.oxborochiro.com.

Source: http://time.com/5069317/california-mobile-phone-radiation/