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Computers can damage your health.

by Dsmither
19 replies
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Hi, this is my first post here, even though I have been reading this forum for months.
I have been blogging for 3 years and really enjoy it, however over the last year or so I have had terrible back pain and also get bad eyestrain. The trouble is I sit in front of a PC for around 8 hours a day blogging and actively creating websites etc.
I have been going to see a physiotherapist which has helped, and he said that sitting all day in front of the pc is causing the problems, and if I want to get rid of my problems then I need to change what I do.
The trouble is I love what I do and it would break my heart to change.
What I would like to know is if anyone else has any health problems sitting all day, and what they do to combat them, if anything.
Regards.
  • Profile picture of the author Star69
    Sit up straight. Don't slouch. Bring the keyboard to you, don't lean over to reach to it.

    Begin doing simple exercises. You'd be surprised how much you might benefit from just doing jumping jacks.

    Start with 10, then rest for a bit and do ten more. The next day bump the number to 12, the next day bump it to 15 or 20 non-stop.

    Be sure you don't over do it when you first begin doing them. Don't say, "Oh, this is easy, I think I'll keep going to 100 before I rest" because you will hurt yourself if you have not been exercising lately. Aim for 100 non-stop after you've been doing them every day for at least a week.

    Doing something as simple as standing up and walking around for one minute every half hour will also help. Just standing up and jumping up and down for a minute will be beneficial (and it will help you mentally, as well.) Sitting for extremely long periods of time will cause blod clots to form in your legs. Not good!

    Hope that helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dsmither
      Star69,
      Thanks for the advice, with having back and eye problems I have dramaticaly changed what I do when sitting in front of the monitor..
      I have a lot of rests and have even took up Yoga. I also do many eye excersises but this is only mildly helping me. I have even considered buying or making a work station that allows me to stand in front of the monitor.
      I am surprised that no one has replied, i thought that there would be many others with health problems, whilst sitting all day.
      Regards
      Dave.
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  • Profile picture of the author redwings0921
    i am 15 and i have developed scoliosis from my poor posture while sitting at the computer for hours at a time. the weird thing is it seems comfortable and later you realize you should not have sat like that. at the moment i am in the worst possible position but it is so comfortable.my legs are up on the base beneath my desk and im pushing down and leaning on my chair so its only on 2 wheel. my body above my hips is twisted at about a 45 degree angle to the keyboard, which i am sort of reaching for
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I can't imagine sitting all day every day. I go out with the dog - mountainous area so I do a lot of climbing during the day, that gets me my Vit D3, too. Once I am home I'm ready to work - but make sure I get up and do other things every so often. I take a 15 minute break (at least) every 50 minutes online. I refuse to work more than 3 hours without an extended time off to clean or primp, or do errands). Then back to it for two or three hours, then something else again.
    You'd be surprised how much you can get done and how balanced your life can be if you get up and offline sometimes.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author PaulLivingston
    I used to get eye-strain and wrist pain. But a 21" monitor and ergonomic keyboard & trackball solved those.

    Never had back problems even after spending 12+ hours at the computer. But they do make special chairs for that. Try googling "ergonomic chairs."
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    • Profile picture of the author Dsmither
      Hi, thanks for the feedback,
      redwings0921, I would be very careful if I were you, as you may develop problems later on in life. Believe me it is no laughing matter having a bad back. Take care.

      HeySal, your life sounds ideal, maybe I should also take longer breaks and also get out and have some fresh air. I love cycling, I should get out more on my bike. Thanks for the advice.

      Paul, I have 2 19" monitors but I am thinking of buying a 37" lcd TV to hang on the wall, and also setting up some kind of workstation that allows me to stand. Hopefully this will resolve both my back and eyestrain.
      It's a wonder that after sitting 12 hours in front of your monitor that you can stand up, you must be very young.
      Regards.
      Dave.
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      • Profile picture of the author PaulLivingston
        Originally Posted by Dsmither View Post

        Paul, I have 2 19" monitors but I am thinking of buying a 37" lcd TV to hang on the wall, and also setting up some kind of workstation that allows me to stand. Hopefully this will resolve both my back and eyestrain.
        It's a wonder that after sitting 12 hours in front of your monitor that you can stand up, you must be very young.
        Regards.
        Dave.
        I've been thinking of going with a big-screen lcd myself. But I do a lot of graphics work and have read lcd's are hard to color match. Especially for print jobs.

        And no, I aint' young at all, compared to just about everyone else here. Plus I do have a bad back...got it from a parachute jump gone wrong many moons ago. But for some reason, sitting at the computer for hours at a time just doesn't bother me. Well, my butt gets sore, but not my back. Maybe it's the chair I use. Don't really know.

        Good luck!
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        • Profile picture of the author sam520
          With my dad being a chiropractor I am well aware of the importance of your back. It also helps that I used to sell Herman Miller chairs. All of that to say... 1) get a good chair [try a Herman Miller] You can find a good used one to save a few bucks because they are expensive. 2) when sitting in your chair put your butt all of the way back into the chair [this is how they are designed] 3) adjust the heighth of your monitor so that your eyes look directly at the middle of your screen [I had to put a few big books under mine to adjust it]. 4) Take a short break and walk around for a few minutes - even if you don't walk around, at least move your eyes onto other subject matter 5) I use a little program called EyeQ that has a little bouncing ball that you follow - this keeps eye strain to a minimum. Hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author PettyL111
    i gain more pounds because im always sitting before my computer these past few days...
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  • Profile picture of the author Alvinparker
    Banned
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    • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
      Originally Posted by Alvinparker View Post

      It is absolutely right that the computers can damage the health after sometimes. The first effect of computer are on your eyes. Your eyes are becoming more damageable or more dark circles are can be came under the eyes.
      You chose a 3 year-old thread to make your first post?

      Boy...you must have been staring at that screen a loooong time!
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  • Profile picture of the author guru2watch
    you need to check your sitting position. remember that same computer makes people's pocket fat. lol .. think about that.
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  • Profile picture of the author peterjohns
    Well I operate computer around 12 hour in a day and I am doing this process from 3 or 4 years but I never feel any thing like that.
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  • Profile picture of the author paul_1
    Some people just can't sit in front of the PC all day... I know of some people who've been advised by their doctors to try to not spend more than 2 hours infront of the PC...
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  • Profile picture of the author martinhelen
    Yes,
    Computer can damage your health.
    if you spend lots of time on computer.
    Its especially damage your eyes and back.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dave Patterson
    Originally Posted by mralex1234 View Post

    yes i think.......................
    Yes you think....WHAT? :confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Dave, the answer seems to be ... not much.


    Either that or he thinks he is increasing his post count or is trying get his signature seen, given that he's running through the forum commenting similarly in several threads.

    Just a matter of time before he gets banned at this rate.
    Signature

    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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  • Profile picture of the author obadiahsparrow
    No, computer doesn't effects on our health. It may really fantastic and helpful for mankind.
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  • Profile picture of the author sabreena
    Hello,

    Great precautions i will take care of my health.....
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  • Profile picture of the author Usmile
    Does you physician told you what will be the possible illness that you will get out of sitting in front of the pc for a long period of time?Well, I guess if you just follow the good sitting posture and give yourself a break every now and then, everything will be alright.
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