Why your gadgets can make you ill, and what to do about it
Digital eye strain, toasted skin syndrome, cellphone elbow are among physical effects of Hongkongers' overuse of electronic devices. But what of your emotional wellbeing?
If you've been feeling more bent out of shape than usual lately, you might want to blame your gadgets. Tense neck, stiff thumbs, sore back: according to health experts, these symptoms are the result of years of hunching over your computers and laptops, texting at all times of the day and night, and staring into your tablet or smartphone screens.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Dr Winnie Mui, a general practitioner with Doctor Laura Bramley & Partners in Central, sees many patients with a range of other ailments related to an overuse of gadgets, from insomnia or restless sleep to headaches, constipation and even dermatitis.
And if your symptoms are bad now, expect them to get worse in the long run. "Keep using your gadgets the way you are, and you may find yourself with a host of health problems in years to come," says Dr Mui.
There's a risk of developing repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger; hearing problems from using earphones; neck strain, which can, over time, cause the spinal bones and discs to degenerate; back muscle spasms from sitting in the same position for prolonged periods; "cellphone elbow", which can lead to numbness and then pain as the nerve gets stretched from holding your phone to your ear for an extended amount of time; leg numbness or perhaps even deep vein thrombosis from prolonged sitting.
Then there's "toasted skin syndrome", caused by heat from your laptop burning your skin; an inability to concentrate, which can increase your risk of making mistakes or having an accident; and, if you're a man who works with a laptop on his lap, sperm production issues due to heat generated by the device.
Parveen Ebrahim, a certified yoga teacher and therapist at The Yoga Effect has many clients seeking relief from muscular tension and discomfort in their upper body. "If the spine's natural curves are habitually flattened or exaggerated, the body adapts to this misalignment and the surrounding muscles have to work harder to compensate, causing muscular strain in the neck, shoulders and upper back, and other symptoms such as headaches," she says.