Different Ways Your Laptop/Computer is Killing You

Spending all day sitting in front of a computer system at work or all night gaming online, your computer time could be causing you no end of grief.I’m talking about real physical pain and injury; from the tip of your head to the bottom of your feet, and everywhere in between.  

 
While this list may contain some of the usual culprits—carpal tunnel syndrome, eye strain, and headaches—there are a few hazards that will make you sit up and take notice. In fact, you may never look at your laptop the same again…especially if you care about your reproductive health.

Insomnia/Sleep Disruption

If you spend time on your computer prior to hitting the hay, you might be losing valuable sleep. The computer’s electronic glow can disturb body rhythms and suppress the release of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin. Some experts recommend an electronic curfew an hour prior to going to bed to help promote a good night’s sleep.

Toxic Dust

Some computers and monitors harbor toxic dust that can be harmful to neurological and reproductive tissues.

The addition of bromated flame retardants primarily polybrominated diphenyl (PBDE) which prevent fires within computer and peripheral housings, began decades ago and are still in use in the manufacture of some computer hardware.

There is no way to remove the toxic dust, and the levels have not been high enough to require manufacturers to remove them, as the benefits can outweigh the risks. When purchasing computer hardware, ask about the use of PBDEs, as well as mercury, lead and other toxins. 

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Falls

You might think sitting at a computer would preclude you from falling; it’s not so much the sitting as the getting up that can be dangerous.

Computer and peripheral cords are a known hazard, contributing to a rise in hospital visits. A study, done in 2009, found 78,000 reports of computer-related injuries at U.S. hospitals between 1994 and 2006.

The number of serious accidents rose 732 percent over that same period. While it’s nice to have the computer connected to the monitor, printer, scanner, router, etc., keeping the cords bundled, zip-tied, and out of the way goes a long way in preventing such falls.

Sperm Health

Men who use laptops as they were intended, sitting in the lap, can be affected by the heat emitted from the computer. 

 

A mere 15 minutes of laptop time can raise the temperature in the scrotum above what is considered safe, even though the user may not feel the additional heat, according to a study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. 

 

 

 Higher scrotum temperatures can affect sperm production. Lap pads, pillows, and various leg positions helped only minimally to reduce or delay the increased temperature, so to keep those swimmers safe, use a laptop on a table or desktop.

Eye Strain/Computer Vision Syndrome

Constant and consistent use of computers can cause computer vision syndrome (CVS). Symptoms include: fatigue, headaches, eye strain, neck pain, double or blurred vision, and tired or burning eyes.

Practice the “20-20-20 rule” to help keep eyes healthy: take a 20 second break every 20 minutes, and look away from the screen to focus on something 20 feet away. Also use proper lighting and take a 15-minute break at least every two hours to help alleviate eye strain. (Good time to move around and get some exercise!)

Headaches

It’s not uncommon for computer users to experience headaches, which range from low-grade throbs to full blown migraines. This can be caused by posture, eye strain, and a variety of other factors.

Make sure that your monitor is at a height and distance that keeps your neck and shoulders from hunching over, or leaning into the screen. Adjust the font size to keep from squinting, and beware of glare or excess lighting that could be triggering headaches.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Repetitive Stress Disorder

Long hours of keyboard and computer mouse usage can lead to wrist and hand injuries, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and the aptly named Repetitive Stress Disorder (RSD).

In CTS, the median nerve that runs from the wrist up along the thumb side of the hand can become inflamed from overuse of thumbs on a keyboard. Numbness and pain are common symptoms.

That same overuse can extend to other fingers or parts of the hand as well, causing RSD. Laptop users are especially prone, due to the small keyboard/mouse combination.

Using an ergonomic keyboard and taking regular breaks are the best way to avoid this problem. Should numbness and pain persist, see a doctor for further recommendations.