Kolkata Community Portal || Kolkata Community Portal - News, Reviews, Comments & Discussion

Over 45 Minutes on PC is Surfing For Trouble

By Dr arvind, Section Computer Gupshup
Posted on Sat Jan 13, 2007 at 02:30:35 AM EST

Docs Say Prolonged Use Of Screen, Keyboard Leads To Host Of Diseases; BPO Sector, Students Worst Hit

What's common to surfing and cervical spondylitis? Before you start racking your brains, here's the answer. Both are terms we have rediscovered after the advent of computers the latter definitely to our disadvantage.

The increased use of the screen-keyboard combo has caused large number of Delhiites, many of them in their 20s and 30s, to fall prey to a host of problems like carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic wrist pain, computer vision syndrome and cervical spondylitis. Many don't need any prolonged medication or surgeries. Observing minor precautions while working can work wonders, doctors say. Some though need physiotherapy or occupational therapy.

Doctors say many of these patients do not need long-term medication. Observing some simple rules while sitting in front of the PC is sufficient

Sit straight, ideally with some back support
Do not sit long hours at a stretch. Walk around a little bit every hour
The screen should be just at the level of the eye
Shift the position of the mouse every couple of hours
Do some neck and eye exercises, deep breathing

Says Dr Sisir Rastogi, professor of orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, ``I see a lot of young students and PhD scholars complain of tiredness, giddiness, headache, numbness and tingling sensation in their fingers all symptoms of cervical spondylitis. ''

Click on "Full Story" for more..

Employees in the BPO sector are probably the highest single group with these problems, doctors say. Those on assembly line jobs, too, are very often affected. But it is not just the professionals who suffers the ill effects of computers. According to Dr Sanjeev Bagai, director and head of the department of paediatrics, Rockland Hospital, who sees ``one or two patients every day with some sort of computer related complaints'', apart from the immediate problems like neck and wrist pain and refractory problems in the eyes, computers also cause psychosocial problems in children. ``They are less inclined to go out, tend to put on weight. In addition, school performance is affected because of poorer memory. Most of my patients say they spend two-four hours a day on computer. In my opinion not more than 45 minutes a day is safe,'' he says.

Eye problems are associated with computer usage in a big way, so much so that a whole new disease has been defined. Says Dr Tarun Kapur, consultant ophthalmologist, Rockland Hospital, ``There is a whole syndrome these days called computer vision syndrome, where we club together problems of prolonged computer usage like dryness of the cornea, fatigue of the cilliary muscles and burning sensation of the eyes. The muscles stay contracted for long hours and while staring at the screen the blinking rate goes down, drying the cornea. We sometimes prescribe eye drops to lubricate it.'' For carpal tunnel syndrome, caused by pressure on the median nerve of the hand, a small surgery is often required. ``We see a lot of these patients, especially those that work on computers or on assembly line jobs. The age range in 20-45 years. We also see a lot of cases of chronic wrist strain where physiotherapy often suffices. It helps if such people use gel pads or specially designed keyboards. They are not very expensive and are very helpful,'' says Dr Ajay Kashyap, head of plastic surgery, Fortis Le Femme.

From: http://www.PuneScoop.com

< Trams on way, Tracks Near Lal Dighi To Be Removed To Make Way For Underground Parking Plaza | Advisory For Parents to Fight Exam-Time Stress >