10 Health Problems Caused by Computer Use and How to Win Them

If you spend more than 6 hours per day sitting in front of a computer for work or pleasure, then it is high time to self-educate on relevant health-related problems and solutions to be taken.

Regular computer use could be the source of significant health depression due to the following:

The prolonged sitting position causes strain in muscles, nerves, and blood vessels;

Poor posture triggering bone and organ displacements as well as bad blood flow;

Inappropriate working conditions and environment, including inappropriately adjusted computer/chair/table position, flickering screen glare, and poor eating habits affecting our metabolic reactions and relevant health dysfunctions;

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Lack of face-to-face human interaction leads to cyber addiction, depression, and psychosomatic reactions. Fortunately, preventive measures and initial treatment of all the health issues caused by computer use could be taken daily, including easy-to-do office exercises.

Health Issues Caused by Computer Use

A sedentary way of life spent in front of a computer screen causes many health problems. The welcome news is that anyone can perform preventive measures to avoid the symptoms and diseases caused by prolonged sitting and computer screen glare. Let’s begin by learning all the risks:

1. Neck, Shoulder, and Back Pain

If to investigate the background causes of neck, shoulder, and back pain (sometimes even leg pain) of white collars, poor muscle tone, sandwiched nerves, and poor blood circulation is the most widely spread one. These are common problems occurring due to a sedentary way of life. For example, weak spine muscles could lead to vertebral displacements, which might clench nerves or blood vessels, causing terrible back pain and other health issues.

2. Computer Vision Syndrome

CVS or Digital Eye Strain is not one specific eye problem. This health problem encompasses various eye strain and pain issues experienced by computer users: double vision, irritation, red eyes, wet or dry eyes, etc. The symptoms mentioned could be caused by poor lighting, a digital screen glare, improper viewing distances, poor seating posture, uncorrected vision problems, or a combination of the factors (American Optometric Association [AOA], n.d.).

3. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, USA, gives the following description: carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist (NINDS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Information Page, 2016). Namely, a painful progressive condition caused by the compression of a key nerve in a wrist is another health issue caused by prolonged computer use; data-entry personnel bears a great risk of acquiring it.

4. Repetitive Strain Injury

RSI is a general term used to describe the pain in muscles, nerves, and tendons caused by repetitive movement and overuse. The condition mostly affects upper body parts: forearms and elbows, wrists and hands, neck and shoulders (National Health Service [NHS], 2016).

5. Metabolic Disorders

Dr. Mercola, an osteopathic physician, and New York Times bestselling author suggests that prolonged sitting is linked to weight gain and associated biochemical changes, such as alterations in hormones, metabolic dysfunction, leptin dysfunction, and inflammation – all of which could promote cancer (Mercola, 2015). The following logical chain could explain a simple example of a relevant metabolic disorder: prolonged sitting causes mushy abdominal muscles; these, in turn, lead to varied stomach problems triggering obesity, which prevents proper breathing and triggers other issues.

6. Heart Diseases

A sedentary lifestyle, with its lack of physical activity, depresses our muscles. Weak muscles burn less fat. Relevantly, blood flows more sluggishly, allowing fatty acids to clog the heart vessels easily. When our body’s need for oxygen transmitted with blood is unmet, apart from minor problems (e.g., occasional arrhythmia), lethal consequences (heart attack and stroke) might happen.

7. Brain Blood Circulation Loss

Our brain metabolism might be dysfunctional due to a sedentary way of life. The brain of a healthy individual receives 15% of cardiac blood output and uses 20% of total body oxygen and 25% of total body glucose (Zauner & Muizelaar, 1997). Accordingly, blood pressure loss across cerebral circulation, possibly triggered by heart diseases or other reasons for bad blood flow, leads to neurotransmitter dysfunction. These brain chemicals communicate information throughout our brain and body. This imbalance can also cause headaches, affect sleep and mood, and cause adverse health problems.

8. Leg Degeneration

Legs might also suffer from prolonged sitting. Varicose veins and blood clots could be caused by poor blood circulation in the legs. Moreover, weak bones and even hip problems could result from poor motion and sedentary habits. All these affect our overall sustaining power and might lead to often fractures when falling.

9. Cyber Addiction

This is a psychological disorder connected with computer use addiction. Our cognitive abilities decrease if every activity is performed online: shopping, banking, socializing, etc. Moreover, cyber-addicted people experience reduced concentration and focus when working off the computer, making it very uncomfortable and even dangerous for the society they interact with.

10. Depression

Mental stresses and constant work overloads lead to depression in the office staff. When the deadline for a project is close, it gets hard to take a break from the computer work routine, which involves mental stress. If no preventive measures are taken to improve one’s spiritual condition, the rising depression might also cause physical harm.

Ways to Relieve the Symptoms and Prevent the Diseases

It is never late to start caring about yourself! Whether you are an office employee or use your PC daily for education or pleasure for a prolonged time, the below-mentioned ways of preventing computer use problems might be convenient:

1. Back, Neck, and Shoulders Strain and Pain Minimization

To minimize pain and strain in your back, neck, and shoulders after prolonged sitting, the following measures are required:

Repeated physical exercises,
Properly adjusted working environment,
Proper seating posture,
Regular breaks.
UCLA Spine Center highlights, “No matter how comfortable you are at your desk, prolonged, static posture is not good for your back. Remember to stand, stretch and walk at least a minute or two every half hour… “(Ergonomics for Prolonged Sitting, n.d.).

2. Overcome Computer Vision Syndrome

It’s not so difficult to arrange appropriate working conditions to prevent CVS. According to the already mentioned American Optometric Association, the actions to be taken are:

distribute light with a desk lamp;
put a monitor glare filter,
position your monitor appropriately – slightly below eye level, about 20 to 28 inches away from the face;
it would help if you didn’t strain your eyes to see the screen;
look away from the screen every 20 min (American Optometric Association [AOA], n.d.).

3. Prevent / Decrease Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

According to the American National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the initial treatment of CTS generally involves resting the affected hand and wrist (NINDS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Information Page, 2016). Repeated but light exercises might help as preventive measures. For example, circular wrist movements performed repeatedly during a working day could prevent a compressed key nerve in your wrist.

4. Decrease Repetitive Strain Injury

It is a fact that an inappropriate posture or prolonged activities performed in an awkward position increase the risk of acquiring a strain in muscles or nerves. The first step in preventing the strain injury (which might be pre-diagnosed based on the repetitive pain in muscles or tendons) is to identify and modify the task or activity that is causing the symptoms (National Health Service [NHS], 2016). Breaks from the same activities also help (e.g.walking to your colleague’s desk instead of sending a message) and improving seating position posture.

5. Improve Metabolism

Our metabolic ability is the basis for digestion, immunity, and overall physical strength. To improve three main purposes of Metabolism – the conversion of food to energy to run cellular processes, the modification of food to building materials for proteins/lipids/nucleic acids, and the elimination of intracellular wastes – it is advisable that doctors follow five easy rules when working in-office:

Performing easy physical exercises regularly,
Regular healthy food eating,
Normal water or tea drinking,
Fresh air-breathing,
Working in a comfortably adjusted environment, including good posture facilities.

6. Heart Stresses Avoidance

It has been estimated that 80% of heart disease and stroke events may be prevented by lifestyle changes and education, as highlighted by American Heart Association (Heart Disease Statistics at a Glance, n.d.). Cardiovascular therapy includes healthy and regular eating, balanced physical activity, regular oxygen intake, avoidance of tobacco and extreme heat or cold temperatures, limited alcohol intake, and mental health maintenance. Considering office employees, occasional meditation, regular tea breaks combined with stairs instead of elevator/fruit instead of cigarette choices might be a relevant therapy.

7. Brain Normal Blood Circulation Maintenance

Our brain controls all physical, chemical, and mental functions of our bodies. That is why any brain metabolism risks should be minimized right in advance. The National Center for Biotechnology Information cites that the importance of auto-regulation of cerebral blood flow is ensured by the constant blood supply and water homeostasis (Cipolla, 2009). To support these processes, one should maintain blood pressure and strengthen blood vessels through balanced physical activities, a healthy diet, and fresh air oxygenation.