Is it bad to use electronic device screens a lot?

To what extent is it true that using electronic devices with screens on a regular basis is harmful to us?

On more than one occasion we have been told: "don't sit so close to the TV", "this is not the time to look at your cell phone", "be careful with the computer or you will need glasses".

It is clear that the general culture has the idea that screens can affect our health, both physically and psychologically, but has it been scientifically proven? Is it really bad to use a lot of electronic devices with screens? Let's see it below.

Is it bad to use screens?

We have all heard that using screens can affect our health, especially our eyesight. On more than one occasion, our parents, friends or anyone else have told us not to sit so close to the TV because we will end up wearing glasses or that we should avoid using the computer at night because it will be difficult to fall asleep. In the general culture there is a strong belief that screens, powerful emitters of light, are not harmless..

Is it bad to use screens? Yes. No. Well, it depends. It depends on how we use them, how responsible we are and what tricks we use to reduce their impact on our eyesight, our sleep patterns and our mental health.

It is not the same to be 9 hours in front of a computer without even getting up to go to the bathroom than to do it every half hour, resting our eyes and washing our face to moisturize them a little. In addition, the lighting in the room and the ergonomics influence how healthy our relationship with the screen is.

Health effects

Actually, the fact that screens damage the eyesight is something that, although it is not a lie, it does have a certain component of myth that they are very harmful to the eyes. is not a lie, but it does have a certain mythical component in that they are very harmful to eyesight.. This belief originated in the 1960s, when defective televisions were marketed that emitted too much light, causing vision problems. However, given that we are in the 21st century and there is a strong regulation regarding electronic devices, it is very unlikely that we will find ourselves in such a situation.

However, it is worth noting that, in the long run, the use of screens for long periods of time and for long periods of time can cause vision problems, using screens for long periods of time and without taking the proper precautions can lead to some problems, both for our eyes and our hygiene. both in our eyes and in our sleep hygiene and mental health.

Eye problems

Among the visual problems to be highlighted are asthenopia or eye strain. This problem occurs when you spend too much time with your eyes focused on something. When we focus our eyes, the muscles of our eyes tighten, with the intention of focusing on the object.

If we spend a long time in this way, the muscles can become strained and cause the sensation of discomfort. When we are in front of a screen, this problem can occur more quickly, since our eyes have to constantly adapt to the brightness of the screen and the darkness of the environment.

Headache

3D technology causes a distortion between the real image and what is perceived by the brain.. Excessive viewing, especially in children, who are still acquiring visual coordination, can lead to headaches, fatigue and nausea.

It is for this reason that some game consoles, such as the Nintendo 3DS whose main attraction was the 3D technology, were forced to remove this function, since their main target audience, children, could have serious headaches.

Muscle aches

When consulting a tablet or smartphone, one tends to tilt the head. This movement, if done in a prolonged and very repetitive way, causes the muscles of the back of the neck to stretch for too long, which causes pain.which causes pain.

It can also happen that we work at the computer in a posture that is harmful to our back, acquiring an uncomfortable posture. In fact, this is what causes 2 out of 3 people to complain of muscular pain associated with the use of screens.

Affect on biorhythm

What is more worrying about screens, whether television, computer or mobile, is how they alter biorhythms.

Exposure to artificial light can cause disturbances in circadian rhythms.These are the oscillations of Biological variables at regular intervals, between 20 and 28 hours, which are synchronized with environmental rhythms such as light or temperature. They are, so to speak, the human biological clock, regulating the functions of the organism.

These cycles are closely linked to light stimuli, since the brain associates sunlight with increased physiological activity, while darkness is interpreted as a signal to inhibit functions, reaching a minimum of activity between 3:00 and 6:00.

Circadian activity in mammals is triggered by specialized cells in the retina, the light-sensitive part of the retina that is sensitive to light.The circadian activity in mammals is triggered by specialized cells in the retina, the light-sensitive part of the retina that signals the presence or absence of light. These cells are especially sensitive to bluish wavelengths, such as those of a daytime sky.

The problem with all this is that the brain cannot distinguish between sunlight, light bulbs and computer screens. Because of this, and also depending on the type of light and the brightness of the light objects, it can lead to circadian disruptions and consequently to sleep and mood problems. In fact, this has been linked to health problems such as diabetes, cancer, obesity and depression, although it should be understood that correlation does not imply causation.

How can we avoid being affected by screens?

First of all, the most basic and obvious advice to prevent screens from affecting us is to stop using them. It's as simple as that. However, considering how busy and demanding the society we live in is, where we find it very difficult to do our duties on time, together with the fact that we are hyperconnected, makes this advice very easy to say but almost impossible to do.

Fortunately, and especially oriented for those who can hardly afford to turn off their computer at 10 p.m., there are some alternatives to prevent the screen of the computer from turning off, there are some alternatives to prevent the computer screen from severely affecting our biorhythms.. There are special programs, such as F.lux, that allow us to calibrate the intensity of the light, preventing the brain from thinking that we are in the middle of the day. This application modifies the color of the screen throughout the day, being cooler in the morning and warmer at night.

In case you have problems with the screens by simple abuse of them, either by looking too much at the mobile or staying up late at night playing video games, here the best option you can take is to take care of yourself and ask yourself if you have a problem with new technologies. ask yourself if you have a problem with the new technologies.What message are we going to receive at night? What's the point of looking at the latest influencer's post at this time of night?

The computer, cell phone or tablet, if their use is not strictly necessary, it is better to have them turned off at night. Given that the use of screens is not innocuous and that using them at night implies sleep problems, using them without obligation may be due to an addiction to new technologies, something that requires the intervention of a professional.

Bibliographic references:

• Stevens, R. G and Zhu, Y. (2015) Electric light, particularly at night, disrupts human circadian rhythmicity: is that a problem? Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B37020140120 http://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2014.0120.