Too much screen use can, in the worst case, lead to major consequences for the body.
The physiotherapist gets more patients and the optician sees changes in our eye.
– It’s stupid when we use the same arm and finger in the same movement for a long time. In addition, you stand or sit with your head bent. The body is not too happy with one-sided, static loads over time, says Camilla Sahlin Pettersen, physiotherapist in Asker and Bærum.
Opinion
The physical reaction came only after minutes
The physiotherapist has seen in particular that tendinitis in the scroll thumb is a consequence. Incorrect sitting position can cause a stiff neck and headaches are some of the injuries you can suffer.
Creepy dots
In December, Therese Pan (35) had to go to the optician.
Over time, Pan noticed that his eye was burning and itching. She was more tired and had a headache.
At the optician, she saw the consequences of a lot of screen use.
– Something happened to my eyes when I went from a small screen to a large screen. It’s an intense day with both mobile and PC at work, says Theresa.
Small dots appeared on the eye. It is a sign that the eye is not getting the moisture it needs, and occurs with a lot of screen time.
The optician who treats Pan is confident in his case.
– She has perfectly healthy eyes, but screen use means she needs glasses, says Sindre Steinhammer, optician at Specsavers.
Settlement
Pan works as an accountant. She uses a PC at work and her phone is always with her in her spare time.
If she watches films or series, she may end up on yet another screen: the phone.
– When I sit in the chair here, I understand the seriousness of how much we as a society use screens, says Pan.
Theresa Pan checks her vision after struggling with dry eyes due to a lot of screen use at optician Sindre Steinhammer Photo: Sigve Bremer Mejdal / TV 2
In fact, screen use has made us blink less often. In addition, our eyes have become drier.
– I have recognized that I have to become more aware of how much I see on the screen. I wish I had come to terms with my screen time earlier, says Pan to TV 2.
Dangerous blink trend
With less blinking, the eyes become drier. We blink less when we concentrate to look at the screen.
DRY: Dye shows dryness. Ideally, an eye should be completely smooth and moist. Photo: Sigve Bremer Mejdal / TV 2
– When we look at a screen, we blink less often. It’s something we notice, and we see a significant increase in dry eyes, says Trine Johnsen, head of department at Specsavers.
We blink 20-25 times a minute when talking to people. When using a screen, we blink as rarely as 5 times a minute.
Giant jumps in younger people
Sales of glasses for children up to the age of 19 have increased by 36 per cent at Specsavers.
– Young people use mobile phones much more, therefore many more suffer from eye problems and more and more people end up with glasses, says Johnsen.
Another chain, Interoptik, does not want to give exact sales figures, but tells TV 2 that they feel that more younger people are coming for eye care.
– I see more children and young people with symptoms such as tired eyes, dry eyes and headaches, says Erik Roberstad, optician at Interoptik.
He refers to research that shows that you blink less when you are sitting on a screen.
– We can say with great probability that a lot of screen time increases the risk of problems related to strained and dry eyes, says Robertstad.
Switch hands
Several physiotherapists warn that increased screen use makes us more sedentary.
– Spending too much time on social media can end up with a few physical ailments. Variation and movement are important for public health. It is important to know that too much sitting still is dangerous, but that exercise and physical activity can reduce this danger considerably, says physiotherapist Pettersen.
She recommends changing the hand you hold the phone in.
– Variety is important. Change which finger you scroll with, change the hand you hold the mobile with, and try to change your sitting position often if you are going to scroll, she says.
In addition, you should compensate for sitting still. If you have spent a lot of time on the screen, you should also prioritize exercising.
