Keep yourself safe by right computing practices

Safe from physical harm

New age diseases can vary from simple stress to more serious muscle disorders. Keep yourself safe by adopting right computing practices

 

With the increasing dependence on technology, there has also been a rise in the technology-related health problems. Computer usage is one of the biggest health hazards of modern age. Some computer related problems include Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) from typing at odd angles without a break, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) due to sitting for long periods without moving, backache due to bad posture, eyestrain from staring at a monitor screen for long and stress due to a combination of the above reasons and work-related pressures.

It is, however, not difficult to beat these problems. Just a few simple steps will suffice. Start by taking regular breaks between long hours of working. You can install one of the programs that blank out your screen at regular intervals to remind you to take that much needed break. Get yourself a big monitor with LCD screen – these are not very expensive anymore. Also get a comfortable chair that suits you and is good for sitting in for long hours. If you are working on a laptop, keep moving into different position after every hour. This prevents muscle cramps from sitting in the same position.

Be careful to read the signs of more serious diseases like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and Epicondylitis that can severely affect the nerves. The symptoms for these include pain in the arm, numbness and tingling in the hands, inflammation in the hands. While carpal tunnel syndrome can affect the median nerve running from the shoulder to the arm, tendonitis or tendon disorder may cause eventually fray and tear of tendons. Epicondylitis, alsocalled 'tennis elbow', begins as pain in the elbow spreading to the forearm. It is caused by repetitive action or rotating the forearm while typing or using the mouse. All these can all be avoided by using the right method to type and use the mouse. You can try and move the mouse to the other side and learn to use it with both hands.

People who work on computers for long hours also commonly complain of lower back pain due to sitting in bad posture or in uncomfortable chairs in office. They also complain of pain in the shoulders and in the neck. This happens when the monitor is not at the right height and one has to constantly strain the neck up to look at the monitor. The monitor should always be at eye level or below it. Make sure your work stuff is in proper place and you don't have to reach out to get even a pen. This may cause a muscle strain or shoulder pain. Get a document holder to keep your papers at the same height as the monitor so that you are not always bending your neck up and down to look at the document and then at the screen giving you a stiff neck.  

Eye fatigue, headache and stress can be kept at bay by going for regular medical examination and following good working ethics like using anti-glare glasses for looking at the monitor screen. The uncomfortable environment at work like air-conditioned closed space, humidity and poor air quality can accentuate stress and stress-related problems.

These problems may affect your life adversely. It is important to keep yourself stress free and improve your working habits. Just a few simple adjustments will make you safer and keep you healthy.