| Every day our health is exposed to danger when we use a computer. Computer harms our eyes, moreover BBC reported that computer use could be linked to glaucoma which can lead to blindness. Not only our eyes suffer from computer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, RSI's of all types account for 60% of all reported occupational illnesses. Lack of blood to the muscles, tendons and nerves attributed to RSI causes arthritis. Pressure, when you work with mouse, crushes the main nerve to your hand called the Median Nerve. The symptoms of this disease, namely Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, are Pain, Weakness, Numbness, Cold, Tingling. Frequently the pain is located in the Thenar muscle, at the base of the thumb. This muscle finally may atrophy and become useless.RSI not only affects the health of people – it hits the finances of their employers as well. “On July 22, HSBC (formerly Midland Bank) lost its appeal to overturn a ?60,000 compensation award made in 1998 to five of its former keyboard operators”, - reported guardian.co.uk (Monday August 2, 1999). The TUC estimates that 200,000 employees take time off work each year in Britain because of RSI, costing industry over ?3 billion.“RSI is not still a compensable occupational illness in India, – reported RECOUP. - even though over $250 billion are spent every year in USA as a consequence of RSI”.The facts impress, isn’t that so? But you can PREVENT computer related diseases. And prevention is the best medicine, because after treatment people returns to their works and almost all of them reported a return of some symptoms. Prevention these diseases is taking breaks and doing exercises during your work day. You should use special programs that remind you to make pauses during your workday and demonstrates stretches and exercises for you. One of such programs is Workplace Angel. I’ve been using this program during 2 months and now I feel better. My eyes, hands, neck, back have a rest in time and don’t pain me. I’m not tired at the end of my workday. Such programs allow you forget about danger concerned with computer related diseases but it remind you to feel better - to take break and do some exercises. The main thing, you should make pauses at the time when program reminds you about it, you shouldn’t ignore it. Don’t forget that your health is in your arms and only you can prevent computer related diseases. Don’t put care of your health off till tomorrow, remember that our health is something we are willing to give away for anything when we are young and then we would give anything to get our health back when we are old. |
