With the rapid technological advancements taking place each day, it is no surprise that people of every age group have been exposed to screen times much longer than ever. The worst affected are the children or teenagers. However, one must understand how much screen time is too much and how prolonged screen exposures can lead to severe physical and mental consequences.
It’s high time that we have been ignoring the negative impacts of high screen exposure. For example, overdosing our eyes on the screen can lead to impaired brain development in children. At the same time, adults can develop severe medical conditions such as diabetes.
The Effects Of Too Much Screen Time
Here are some of the negative impacts of too much screen time on our health:
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Physical Strain
It is no surprise to hear that prolonged screen exposures can lead to strain in the eyes and the body. Eyes may feel dry, leading to retina damage and distorted vision. Also, how people keep sulking towards their screens harms their posture. It may cause pain in the neck and back.
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Lack Of Sleep
The amount of time you spend on your smartphone screens affects your sleep cycle. The more you stay exposed to the light of your screen, the lesser will be your melatonin production. And melatonin is the hormone responsible for sleep.
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Obesity
Children are the ones who are worst affected by this condition. The use of screens is such a passive task that it makes your body deprived of physical activities. Also, while watching TV or smartphones, many prefer snacking a little. This adds up to the factors and results in obesity.
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Development Of Chronic Conditions
Too much screen consumption can make you obese, which in turn may lead to certain chronic conditions such as diabetes or cancer. Not engaging yourself in any physical activity leads to greater production of insulin and blood glucose. Thus, it results in severe health conditions.
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Degraded Socialization
When you stay engaged the entire day with your screens, you tend to focus less on interactions with the community around you. This makes you anti-social and may make you feel detached. It happens especially with teenagers and children.
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Impaired Cognitive Ability
One of the most severe effects of screen exposure is impaired mental health. The cognitive processes in the brain get hampered due to the changed structure of the brain. The brain’s communication is reduced. This leads to weaker concentration, slower information processing, and poorer memory.
Conclusion
Too much of anything leads to distortion. Similarly, too much exposure to screens also harms one’s physical and mental health. Children specifically develop lower self-esteem due to spending maximum time over their screens. Screen addiction is severe and must not be ignored. Even if you cannot free yourself from the screen addiction, you must try seeking the help of a doctor or your family and friends. Moreover, if you are not addicted to the screen but it’s for your work that you have to stay stuck to the screens, then you can try wearing computer glasses to prevent the screen rays from hitting your eyes directly. Also, you must keep splashing water in your eyes now and then to prevent your eyes from drying.
