technology – Hello Doctor

Can WiFi and Bluetooth make me sick?

June 27th, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

We can’t deny the great convenience of being able to access the internet anywhere and anytime. We’re now easily able to log in from home, school, work, shopping centres and even public transport.

Despite this convenience, almost all of these environments that we are exposed to on a daily basis filled with Electromagnetic radiation (EMR).

What is the impact of this exposure on our health?

Radiofrequency

Wireless networks used by cell phones, computers, Bluetooth speakers, and other WiFi-powered devices stream invisible radio waves through the air. This is a form of radiofrequency radiation.

Radiation is the energy that comes from a source and travels through space. For instance, an electric heater functions by heating metal wires, which then radiate that energy as heat.

Radiofrequency radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation, a combination of electric and magnetic fields that move through space together as waves. Electromagnetic radiation falls into two categories:

Non-ionizing radiation: Usually known to be harmless to humans through Cell phones, Bluetooth, light bulbs, computers, Wi-Fi routers, FM radio, GPS, and TV.
Ionizing radiation: High energy radiation with the potential for direct cellular and DNA damage, through X-ray machines, radioactive material, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, and particle accelerators

How does it work?

Radio frequencies aren’t visible to the human eye and are measured in units called hertz. This represents the number of cycles per second a radio wave is transmitted.

One hertz equals one cycle per second. Radio waves range from thousands (kilohertz) to millions (megahertz) to billions (gigahertz) of cycles per second.

How can radiofrequency radiation affect your health?

The radio frequency signals from cell phones, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, are considered nonionizing forms of radiation. Thus, they don’t carry enough energy to directly break or alter your DNA, one of the risk factors for cancer. Thus far, there are no studies or evidence of the dangers of radiofrequency radiation. The WHO is still evaluating and continually updating data on how radiofrequency might affect our health.

That said, it is advisable to practise caution when regularly exposed to radiofrequency radiation devices, for their effect may not be as drastically, or clearly noticed as extreme radiation (such as

Reduce the dangers

Keep your cell phone at a distance, especially away from your head and body
When you do use your phone, try texting or video-calling, use the speakerphone on your device or a wired or Bluetooth headset rather than holding the phone to your ear
Carry your phone in a bag instead of putting it in your pocket.
Avoid resting your tablet on your body for a long period of time.
When you go to bed store your phone away from where you sleep, switch it to aeroplane mode, or turn it off entirely.

Protect your home

Unplug appliances when not in use to avoid wasting energy and to reduce the levels of EMFs emitted in your home.
If you spend a lot of time in your room, be sure to clear it of as many EMFs as possible. Technologies can affect your sleep as well as your DNA.
Avoid halogen and fluorescent lighting.
If you do use Wi-Fi, unplug it when it’s not in use and be sure to keep the router away from areas where you or family members spend a lot of time. Avoid unnecessary wireless technologies around your baby, many generations have survived without these, you can too!

Eat a healing diet

Protect your body from the possible effects of EMFs by eating nutrient-rich foods. High Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) foods can help to support your body in preventing EMF-related DNA damage

Add these beneficial options into your diet:

Cruciferous vegetables, broccoli, rosemary, asparagus, blueberries, pomegranate seeds, walnuts, pecans, prunes, cinnamon, dates, and cilantro.
Vitamin D3, spirulina, B-complex vitamins, melatonin, holy basil, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and zinc.

References:

Can your smartphone cause textitis?

January 27th, 2020 by Content Editor

You’ve been shooting texts back and forth for hours. Your neck and wrists are aching, but texting is harmless, so it couldn’t be the culprit, right?

Unfortunately, it could. You could be developing textitis.

Are you a victim of textitis?

Coined by American hand surgeon Dr Mark Ciaglia, textitis (osteoarthritis) is caused by excessive texting or typing via your cell phone, laptop, tablet or any other electronic device.

This can lead to neck pain, elbow pain, hand, wrist and thumb pain, as well as numbness and tingling in the arms, forearms, hand, and fingers. Most of the problems involve the thumbs, pinkie fingers, and wrists.

Texting thumb, also known as trigger thumb or gamers thumb, is a common problem as texting involves hand motions that put stress on several small muscles, tendons, and nerves in your fingers and wrists.

These repetitions can lead to inflammation and pain and may sometimes even require surgery. The condition affects the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist.

According to the National Centre for Biotechnology Information in the US, there has been an increasing number of younger people around the world with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) of the hand, wrist, forearm, arm and neck.

While there may be no cure for this condition, a combination of rest and treatment can help alleviate pain and restore flexibility.

Treatment may include:

Oral pain medication and anti-inflammatories
Occupational therapy
Injections and sometimes even surgery

Prevent textitis

Fortunately you can prevent discomfort with these easy tips:

Stretch. Open and close your fingers throughout the day to keep your tendons nimble. Wrist circles can also help.
Limit time spent gaming, texting, etc.
Get some thumb rest. Use your index finger to text or try the voice feature on your phone to send messages.
Call, don’t text. Try chatting rather than texting or emailing.
Soak your thumb in warm water during regular breaks
Acupuncture
Track your smart phone usage and think of different ways you can cut back. If you find yourself spending more time with your phone than with your friends and family, try and put your phone away during dinner. Enjoy some human interaction and conversations with your loved ones.

For your hand, fingers and thumb

Curl your fingers and thumb into a tight fist then straighten your fingers as far as you can go without pain.
Start with your fingers fully extended and together, now spread your fingers apart as far as you can go – again without pain.
Move your thumb to each fingertip beginning with your index finger and finishing with your little finger.

Wrist

Hold your arm in front of you with your elbow extended, flex the wrist forward. Repeat with wrist extended. (Hold for 20 seconds on each side)

Neck

Use your hand to gently pull your head to the side and rotate your nose towards the same shoulder. (Hold for 20 seconds on each side)

Shoulders

Roll the shoulders 10 times forward and 10 times backward.
Perform 10 big-reaching shoulder circles with arms extended

References:

Does your child have Electronic Screen Syndrome?

January 23rd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Believe it or not, a child’s nervous system can become overstimulated by regular screen exposure that comes from cell phones, computers, iPads and other digital devices. These devices can cause chronic stress on the brain, which may result in various different learning and behavioural disorders.

Electronic Screen Syndrome (ESS) is considered an unrecognised modern-day disorder. The interaction with screens can shift the nervous system into fight-or-flight mode, which causes dysregulation and disorganisation of different biological systems.

Once in this state, your child’s mood, behaviour, and focus can be affected. ESS isn’t limited to teenagers obsessed with digital devices; toddlers can be affected too.

The latest research suggests that around 90% of children can use an electronic tablet by the age of two. What’s worrying about this statistic is that each time a child picks up a device, changes happen in the brain that can lead to overstimulation and hyperarousal.

According to Dr Victoria Dunckley, author of Reset Your Child’s Brain, ESS symptoms typically include poor focus, irritable mood, and disorganised or disobedient behaviour. Children with ESS are easily frustrated, tearful and angry. They tend to have meltdowns over minor incidents. They often struggle in school because they can’t get their work done and may display immature behaviour that’s off-putting to their friends.

Technology is known to have a hyper-arousing effect, as it can raise dopamine levels – the feel-good neurotransmitter that also plays a role in forming addictions. Children with ESS tend to lose interest in anything that isn’t electronically based and may show little imaginative play or creative expression.

ESS risk factors

Children with ESS are drawn to their screens – so much so that it becomes hard to pull them away.

The following factors may increase the risk of ESS:

Younger age
Males
Behaviour disorders (like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism)
Psychosocial stressors
Addiction tendencies
Sensory dysfunction

Help your child

As a parent, the first step to help address this syndrome is to recognise the signs. If the following questions apply to your child, he may have, or be at risk for, ESS:

Has your child progressively become defiant or disorganised?
Does your child have full-blown rages?
Does he have meltdowns over minor frustrations?
Do they become irritable when told to stop playing video games or to get off the tablet/computer?
Do you ever notice your child’s pupils are dilated after using electronic devices?
Does your child have a hard time making eye contact after screen time or in general?
Do you ever feel your child isn’t as happy as they should be, or isn’t enjoying activities as much as they used to?
Does your child have trouble making or keeping friends because of immature behaviour?

Try to remove screen stimulation from your child’s routine. This will allow for your little one’s brain to get deep rest and will assist in rebalancing their brain chemistry and hormone levels, while at the same time, restoring their mental energy. This can help to improve his mood, focus, and behaviour in a matter of weeks.

References:

At what age can my kid have a cellphone?

May 11th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

You’ve decided to give your child a cellphone for safety reasons. But you’re worried. Will he spend his days glued to the tiny screen? What kind of horrors will he be exposed to on the Internet? Is it a big mistake to give him a phone at this age?

A child receiving a cellphone has become a 21^st century rite of passage, but there’s a lot to consider, with all the emotional, developmental and social risks involved.

Know the risks

A study by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that cellphones pose possible health hazards for the brain, academic performance and behaviour.

Academic performance

Today, phones aren’t just a means to make calls. For a child, it’s used to play games, text friends, and watch videos. Thanks to its all-in-one capabilities, a cellphone can be a big distraction; particularly during school and homework time when kids should be concentrating.

Cyber bullying

Being bullied online means the bully is everywhere. A Vodafone survey found that one in five South African teens experience cyber bullying and 84% said that they know someone being bullied online. Cyber bullying may not seem as serious as physical bullying, but 60% of the participants believe that cyber bullying is worse than being bullied face-to-face.

Risky behaviour

At least 70% of children aged eight to 16 have stumbled on online pornography while innocently searching for homework-related information. What’s more; the largest group of Internet porn users is aged 12-17. Children sending inappropriate pictures is also a concern. They aren’t aware that whatever they send or share online may land in the wrong hands.

Is your child ready for a phone?

Ask yourself these questions before deciding.

Does your child have a history of good decision-making?
Does he understand inappropriate online behaviour?
Would your child come to you if he has phone-related issues (e.g. cyberbullying)?
Does your child need a cellphone (e.g. if he travels alone frequently)?
Will your child follow cellphone rules at home and at school?
Is your child able to communicate effectively, both verbally and written?

Keep your child safe

Talk to your child

Remember when you first got a cellphone? It was exciting, right? Your child will be so wrapped up in having a new “toy” to play with that he won’t see any possible dangers. Talk to him about what could happen and what to look out for to prepare him for any dangers. Open communication will also make him feel like he can confide in you, should anything happen.

Make rules and stick to them

Keep an eye on how much time your child spends on his phone. A good way to manage this is to limit your child’s data the same way you’d limit pocket money. In this way, he won’t text as much in order to make the data last as long as possible. You can also ban certain sites to prevent him stumbling on inappropriate content.

Set social boundaries

Unless you want your child to text throughout dinner or during school hours, give them social limits. For example, no texting while with other people. Or no phone at night. Giving him set weekend “phone times” is also a good way to manage use.

Set boundaries for them

Use apps and parental controls which will limit your child’s behaviour: who they can talk to, what websites they can visit and which apps they can download. You could even limit them to a basic phone – do they really need a smartphone?

References:

Do you need to go to rehab for binge-watching?

May 11th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

You’ll regret it in the morning when you can’t keep your eyes open, but you press play anyway. “Just one more episode,” you tell yourself.

A recent Netflix survey revealed that 61% of users regularly watch two to six episodes in just one sitting. Does this sound familiar?

After a long day, curled up in bed with snacks, watching endless episodes of your favourite series may sound appealing, but it may not be so kind to your health. The high you get from watching your favourite shows on a loop makes you feel good but it may lead to addiction.

Slave to the screen

Hilarie Cash, a mental health counsellor who specialises in screen and internet addiction in America, explains that overstimulation plays a big role in why we binge-watch. She shared that most binge-watchers who become addicted initially start as a means of escapism.

Indulging in binge-watching makes you so used to the easy distraction and the high you get, that eventually a few episodes isn’t enough. You soon find that you’re watching more episodes in one sitting to get your fix.

Binge-watching happens easily for other reasons too:

It helps you escape your responsibilities and worries for a while.
It relaxes you.
It adds a sense of excitement to your day (your favourite show becomes something to look forward to).
Today, compelling TV shows are at our fingertips on TV or online.

What’s the harm?

A recent study found that adults who watch more than three hours of TV a day double their risk of premature death! Sitting for long stretches is more likely to increase the risk of health issues like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

A University of Michigan study found that TV shows with captivating plots excite the brain. This makes it difficult for your mind to settle before bed and may cause sleep deprivation.

Too much TV time is also linked to the risk of becoming overweight because for most, binge-watching and snacking go hand-in-hand. Sitting for hours while snacking on junk food is not the way to health!

Binge-watching also puts your social life at risk. A study done by Marketcast, an entertainment company, found that 56% of binge-watchers prefer to watch alone and that 98% watch at home. This leaves little time for friends or making new connections.

Pace yourself

If you save a few slices of pizza, you’ll get to enjoy it tomorrow. The same goes for your favourite TV show. Don’t watch an entire season in one go, treat yourself to an episode a day. A study done by the Journal of Consumer Research found that the faster you watch your favourite show, the less enjoyment you’ll get out of watching it. A little distance will make your heart grow fonder and help prevent an addiction.

Avoid purge-watching

Be honest. Are you binge-watching because you can’t get enough or just to finish what you started? Usually, finishing tasks is a good thing, but when it comes to watching TV and specifically shows you don’t like, it can be harmful. Only watch shows you enjoy, so you’re less likely to end up in a cycle of continuous binge-watching. (You’re also more likely to run out of episodes in no time.)

Earn it

Going cold turkey with binge-watching isn’t easy, especially when Netflix releases an entire season of your favourite show. Use a reward system to make watching your favourite show productive. For example, cleaning your room could earn you some screen time, as well as finishing an assignment or hanging out with your friends.

Time yourself

Don’t know when to stop watching? Let your alarm tell you. A great way to regulate how much you’re watching is to set an alarm for when you’ve started watching and when you should stop. Listen to the alarm! You can watch again tomorrow.

References:

Tech-proof your health

April 20th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

You finally crawl into bed after a long day at your computer screen. You get under your blanket; switch off the light, fluff your pillow, and then scroll through your Twitter feed…

Big mistake! Technology has its benefits, but it has its dark side too. Too much tech can harm your health.

Watch out for these technology health wreckers.

Your skin

Your fingers are constantly jabbing away on your phone or laptop keyboard. The oils, bacteria and dirt that accumulate on your hands throughout the day can transfer to your phone, screen and keyboard. If you’re not careful, the same gunk will end up on your skin and specifically your face. This can cause pimples and even breakouts. To protect your skin, wash your hands regularly and use a hand sanitiser. Also, regularly wipe your phone and keyboard with a clean cloth.

Your stress levels

You know that awful feeling when you’re waiting for someone to text you back? Or, how about when you have an inbox full of emails to get through? It’s been shown that technology increases stress levels. For example, at work you’re dependent on a computer and if it crashes, you may lose all your work. When you post a picture online and no-one likes or comments on it, you might feel down. If you feel anxious about anything related to technology, step back and take a break. Put the phone away, shut down your computer and get some fresh air.

Your hearing

Music blasting through your headphones may boost your productivity by putting you in the zone, but your volume level may be a problem. When you crank up your tunes to the highest level, you’re damaging your ears. Over time, you may develop hearing problems. Turn down the volume if your listen to music regularly and take breaks in between to lower the risk of damaging your ears. You only have one pair after all.

Cyber sickness

Have you ever felt dizzy, woozy or nauseous after playing a game or using your phone or laptop? It may be cyber sickness. According to scientists, when you scroll too quickly on your phone for too long, or play a virtual reality game, you trick your senses into thinking you’re doing something you’re not. The inner ear, your body’s balance organ, doesn’t feel the movement your eyes are seeing and the mixed signals make you feel sick. If you experience this, stop what you’re doing and place your hands on a flat, stable surface while your senses balance themselves. Eat something with ginger in it to help with nausea, breathe through your nose, and exhale through your mouth to calm yourself.

Your eyesight

Most of us wake up to a screen and end our night staring at one, too. By constantly exposing your peepers to screens for long periods, you’re increasing the risk of damaging them. Problems like dry eyes, blurred vision, and double vision are possibilities if you don’t look after your eyes. Protect them by changing the lighting on your screen to ease the strain on them. Also, look out for glares that stresses your eye sockets. Most of all, take regular breaks from looking at computer or phone screens.

Your heart health

A study by researchers from the University of South Carolina found that there’s a 64% greater risk of heart disease for men who sit 23 hours or more behind a screen, compared to men who only spend 11 hours behind one. Furthermore, even if you work out regularly, you’re still at risk for obesity, heart attack, high blood pressure and diabetes, if you spend most of your day seated. Get moving! An Australian study found that even short breaks from sitting can lower the risk of these conditions. So, stand when possible, take the stairs instead of the lift and take regular walks.

References

Feeling blue? Your cellphone could be the problem

July 2nd, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Your phone is practically an extension of your hand. It’s the first thing you check in the morning and chances are that when you fall asleep, you’re still scrolling away… It’s your watch, your camera, alarm and practically your best friend, all rolled into one!

Take a moment though, to consider that your little BFF may actually be doing you harm. Think of all the things you touch in a day, from your computer to food. Every surface contains germs and when you touch, swipe and chat on your phone (numerous times a day!) you’re transferring those germs.

Germs of course, make you sick. They disrupt bodily functions and bring on illnesses. But that’s not all…

Your phone could be harming:

Your eyesight: The direct blue light from the screen can damage and strain the retina of the eyes. Short-sightedness follows when you focus on something in front of you for a long period. Your vision may start to become blurry, the light can cause headaches, and you may need to squint or partially close your eyes to see clearly.
Tech fix: Get up and away from your cellphone frequently. Focus your tired eyes on something far away every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds (not another screen or book). Look out the window or stare at an object in the distance. Try not to scroll up close and personal when you’re on your phone; keep the screen about 30 centimeters from your eyes. You could also ask an optometrist for glasses that block out blue light. Blink constantly to avoid dry eyes. Don’t forget to minimise the screen glare.

Brain activity: Researchers have found that cellphones can alter the function of your brain; and having a cellphone in your ear for about 50 minutes is enough to cause those changes. The weak electromagnetic radiation that cellphones and tablets emit can release highly reactive and damaging free radicals. These weaken the brain and its protective barrier.
Tech fix: Minimise the radio waves released from the antenna by using the loudspeaker or earphones. Keep your phone calls short and hold the phone 30 to 40 centimeters away from your body to lessen radiation. Keep your alarm clocks, radios and cordless phones a meter away from the head of the bed.

Posture: “Text neck” is real! If you frequently suffer with neck pain, blame your phone. This is thanks to our bad habit of poring over the phone, crouched over, facing downward. It’s a common injury because of the hours spent on handheld devices. If left untreated it can lead to neck inflammation. Chronic headaches have also been linked to this injury.
Tech fix: Hold your phone to eye level; this will help position your head, neck and shoulders correctly. Alternatively, lie on the floor to relax your neck and head, and hold the phone over your face. This position may soon become uncomfortable and this will help lessen the time you spend on your phone.

Sleep: Can’t sleep? It’s the blue light. The artificial light that your phone emits, tricks your body into staying “alert” and awake. According to the journal Nature, the blue light activates neurons in the brain and increases alertness, and disrupts the melatonin hormone which regulates sleep-wake cycles. This causes sleep deprivation.
Tech fix: If you can’t fall asleep without using your phone, dim the brightness and hold the phone away from your face. This will help with the release of melatonin to help you fall asleep. Try reading a book rather than words onscreen and avoid the hazardous light.

Social life: Your Smartphone can improve your social life in the virtual world but diminish your real-life one. To some extent, cellphones contribute to the deteriorating levels of education as students are less likely to visit a library, but rather study from an online document. As addictive as they are, they affect your overall productivity, basic human interaction and limit your personal development.
Tech fix: Don’t be tempted to check every single notification as soon as you receive it. Disable notifications for a while, and get an alarm clock to wake you. This will lessen the chances of opening your social media as you wake up. It might be a good idea to have a little social media detox every month. Just switch off for a few hours and interact in real time.

References

Apps to make life easier!

January 12th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

App, app, app – there’s one for every possible want or need these days, but are we really using this technology to our advantage? Sure, games, instant messaging and social media apps are great and they’ve changed the way we communicate, but there’s so much more out there! Continue reading “Apps to make life easier!”

Can you IMPROVE your eyesight by looking at a screen?

February 27th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

Is it actually possible to improve your eyesight by looking at a screen? According to scientists, there’s a new eye training programme that can.