Health

10 illnesses brought on by our addiction to modern technology

by liamssoft | December 2, 2011 at 12:42 am

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If you're the sort of person who spends more time texting than talking, be warned - you could even be doing it in your sleep.

People leading busy lives are often unable to switch off at night and end up picking up their phone while still asleep and sending garbled text messages to colleagues, friends and relatives.

But it's not the only illness which can be linked to modern technology. That's the claim from Australian sleep expert Dr David Cunnington.

Here are 10 others:

ELECTROMAGNETIC HYPERSENSITIVITY

From wi-fi to mobile phone signals, we're surrounded by wireless communications and, for some people, exposure to electromagnetic fields is making them ill.

FACEBOOK DEPRESSION

Earlier this year, an influential group of US doctors warned that teenagers were becoming obsessed with Facebook, to the detriment of their health.

REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY

It used to be factory workers, dressmakers and musicians who were most at risk from repetitive strain injury. But now office workers can suffer from the condition after spending too many hours using a keyboard.

PHONE HEADACHES

For years the debate has raged over whether mobile phones are harmful, but studies have shown there is a link between headaches and mobile use.

INTERNET ADDICTION

Psychiatrists now offer treatment for internet addiction - and have treated patients who say that the online world has taken over their lives. Internet addiction test HERE

HEARING LOSS

While most technological illnesses have arrived in the last 10 to 15 years, it's been more than 30 years since concerns were first raised that people could damage their hearing listening to loud music on personal stereos.

Wii INJURIES

When Nintendo's Wii was first released, people of all ages were keen to try the novel "wand" controller that replaced the old-fashioned keypad.

The problem was that many people enjoyed playing games such as Wii Tennis so much that lengthy sessions left them with muscle strains.

3D HANGOVERS

An American Association of Optometrists study discovered problems relating to 3D televisions and gaming.

A quarter of users reported eye strain, blurred vision, dizziness, headaches or nausea after viewing 3D content.

NARCISSISM

A study published earlier this year by two US academics claimed that students are becoming increasingly self-absorbed, in comparison to previous generations, as a result of modern technology.

dailyrecord.co.uk/news/science-and-technology