YOUR WELLBEING MATTERS
A FIVE MINUTES PAUSE EVERY HOUR ON A COMPUTER IS GOOD TO KEEP AWAY THE PHYSICAL PROBLEMS OCCURRING DUE TO ITS USE. spends on a computer. After continuous work on a computer, the eyes get strained and this is manifested in the form of eye pain, headache, itching and redness of the eyes. Many young children wear thick eye glasses due to weakening of the eyesight, induced by computers. To avoid this, one should ensure that there is adequate light falling on the computer screen and keyboard while they are being used. There should be no glare coming from electric lights or sunlight reflected on the screen. If one’s eyes are strained or quite simply, ache, he or she should close the eyes for a few minutes with hands placed on them to deepen their relaxation and then resume work. Washing eyes with cold water two or three times daily helps to keep them clean and relaxed. Doing exercise of the eye muscles regularly is also beneficial for keeping them healthy. Some people suffer from cramps and joint pains in the hands after using computers. Arthritis is also aggravated by computers. This can be avoided by putting the key board within comfortable distance from the hands. Hot compression of hands and fingers helps in averting this problem. Regular exercise of hands maintains their flexibility. As a result, the problem does not usually appear even after working on computers for long hours. Backache is yet another problem which occurs after using computers for long periods. This occurs due to sitting in the same position for a long time. In this situation, the force of gravity tends to pull the backbone down, which produces stress on the backbone and attached muscles. Once backache starts, it increases progressively. To avoid this while working, one should sit straight with adequate support behind the back. This is most feasible with straight-backed chairs which should not have heavily cushioned seats and back support. Working on computers also tends to cause and aggravate neck pain due to the strain on the neck. Middle aged individuals may suffer from cervical spondylosis, (degenerative condition of the spine in neck) which is aggravated by computer use. This can be avoided by using a straight backed chair with adequate support for the neck. Thick pillows should be totally avoided. In short, to avoid joints and neck pain while working with computers, the individual, chair, computer and keyboard should be aligned to each other in a straight line for a comfortable position. Working for long hours with computers tends to produce fatigue. This happens because the body does not get adequate
oxygen while sitting for a long time in the same position. Deep breathing for a few minutes in between work supplies adequate oxygen to the body tissues and also provides relaxation. A five minutes pause every hour on a computer is good to keep away the physical problems occurring due to its use. During the pause, a person should take deep breaths; relax his or her eyes, mind and body. Continuous computer use also brings about the risk of obesity as does any other sedentary work. This is again due to sitting continuously for long hours. Regular physical exercise and avoiding obesity-inducing junk food can prevent it. A balanced, nutritious diet is very useful in keeping the body healthy. This reduces the risk of health related problems due to computers. One’s diet should include plenty of fresh green vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grain, cereals, milk, milk products and fish. Regular physical exercise is equally beneficial in keeping the body healthy and joints supple. It is imperative for any individual who has to use computers on a daily basis to give due attention to a balanced diet and regular physical exercise, as well as a correct working posture. This will ensure that he or she does not suffer from any health related problem due to computers. TSM rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk
The SERVICEMAG March - May 2011| 51