Читать книгу The Movement and Technology Balance - Traci Lengel - Страница 48

The reality of the digital age is that this abundance of technology is taking a toll on our physical health. Children and adults alike are prone to an alarming number of ailments that affect our everyday wellness and can leave us with chronic problems. The risks that occur with too much technology usage adversely affect the entire body, including our brain, sensory organs, spine, and overall health. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA) (2015), screen time can cause digital eye strain, which results in burning, itchy, tired eyes; headaches; fatigue; blurred vision; and double vision. We blink two thirds less than we normally do when we are using a screen, which dries out the eyes and can increase the need for artificial tears (Barker, 2018). In addition, digital screens can

give off high-energy, short-wavelength, blue and violet light, which may affect vision and even prematurely age the eyes. Early research shows that overexposure to blue light could contribute to eye strain and discomfort and may lead to serious conditions in later life such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which can cause blindness. (AOA, 2015)

This increased exposure to blue light is causing much alarm for the general eye health of our youth. And as students are increasingly using cell phones, tablets, Chromebooks, and laptops, this exposure is increasing dramatically both in and out of school.

With the introduction of streaming music sites such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora, as well as instant access to movies and TV through sites such as Netflix and Amazon, our love affair with earbuds and headphones has exploded. Consumers want to take their music and movies with them everywhere they go. We demand quality listening devices that provide concert- or theater-level sound that drowns out all background noise; however, any device that produces more than 85 decibels of sound can cause hearing loss. “According to research conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, earphones inserted into the ear produce sound levels that can exceed 120 dB, which is comparable to a plane leaving the runway” (Thompson, 2017). This is alarming for our youth, considering the amount of time students are using headphones both in and out of the classroom. From cell phones on the school bus to software programs in the computer lab, today’s student is exposed to a variety of immersive, loud noises that can cause hearing loss; 12.5% of kids between the ages of 6 and 19 have hearing loss as a result of listening to loud music, particularly through earbuds at unsafe volumes (Packer, 2015). Untreated hearing loss can negatively affect a student’s academic progress, ability to perform tasks, and entry into the workforce. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that children with hearing loss can have difficulty communicating and developing important language and social skills (2018).

Continuous usage of devices that require us to look down at 30- to 60-degree angles—such as cell phones, tablets, and laptops—causes neck strain. The weight of the human head tilted to those degrees places forty to sixty pounds of force on the neck and spine, resulting in headaches, pinched nerves, arthritis, bone spurs, muscular deformation, disc degeneration, and nerve complications (Jolly, 2018). Teens and preteens are spending an enormous amount of time with cell phones in hand. HealthCorps (2016) reports that the number of 16- to 18-year-olds reporting neck pain is increasing and that these teens have decreased flexibility, worse posture, and decreased neck muscle strength. Teens with neck pain are at an increased risk for developing chronic inflammation. This technology-driven neck pain has been given the nickname “tech neck” and has the potential for developing into ongoing neck and shoulder pain, headaches, and pain radiating down the arms (Sinicropi, 2016.)

Technology changes have brought about a profound alteration in the eating and activity habits of Americans. This increase in digital media usage has resulted in a nation that is larger than ever, and sadly, our students are not excluded from the effects. In the war against childhood obesity, screen time is one of our greatest enemies. With obesity being the most challenging health epidemic in the nation, the relationship between excessive technology use and obesity has been extensively researched. Since the 1980s, studies have been done to correlate the number of hours a child spends watching television to obesity and body mass index (BMI). The 21st-century child now has television, websites, streaming media, and social media competing for their undivided attention. Children who engage with more screen media also consume fewer fruits and vegetables; eat more calorie-rich snacks, drinks, and fast foods; and have a higher total calorie intake. Combined with a decrease in physical activity and reduced sleep, screen time makes weight management a challenge (Robinson et al., 2017). Our future generation is at risk for a variety of health complications and psychological concerns that include but are not limited to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease, sleep and eating disorders, respiratory problems, depression, low self-esteem, difficulties with peer relationships, increased stress and anxiety, learning disabilities, and behavioral challenges (Childhood Obesity Foundation, 2015). We now have a nation of youth who may not outlive their parents. It is imperative that we seriously consider the role that the technology overload plays in this scary statistic.