Disease Risk For Computer Users

The use of computers throughout the world has increased from time to time. With the computer, the work can be completed easily and quickly. However, the use of computers also give adverse effects on the health of the wearer.

The computer as a tool is it can cause occupational diseases as well as the use of machinery in industrial activity. Diseases that can be caused by the use of computers among others stress, disorders of the eye and vision as well as musculoskeletal disorders.

Disturbances above arise because of misuse, such as the location of the screen is too high, the distance of the eye that is too close to the computer, keyboard table does not match the body of the operator, the lighting is wrong, and so forth. Disorders that arise can be resolved by fixing errors above.

With the proper technique of using occupational disease caused by the computer can be avoided.

Stress
The use of computers can lead to stress, such as that found NIOSH (The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health). NIOSH found that the computer operators have higher levels of stress compared with other occupations. The type of stress that can be caused by the use of the computer does not have difference with the type of stress that exist in life.

Vision Impaired
Other health problems most frequently reported effect is visually impaired computer users. Impaired vision can cause physical abnormalities. This happens because when vision becomes blurred, then the user's computer will change your body position forward in order to see closer objects' on the monitor more clearly. Visual impairment caused by the use of computers, by The American Optometric Association called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).

A study published by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health took the sample of 10,000 workers basil eye exam. The work is divided into several groups based on the time spent in front of computers at work and at home at the time. Another thing to consider is the length of use of computers in years. The result is a heavy user of the computer has a vision disorders, including myopia and glaucoma, so it can be seen that heavy computer use has a direct relationship with the onset of myopia and glaucoma.

Dr. Masayuki Tatemichi, Toho University School of Medicine, conducted a study of workers of different place in Japan that has employees more than 5000 people. He divided the worker groups based on how much use the computer, users are divided into mild, moderate, and severe. The result is found to suffer from glaucoma 522 workers.

Nick Astbury said that the Japanese population has a high prevalence of suffering from myopia, as one of the risk of glaucoma. Since computer users not only in Japan, as said David Wright (International Glaucoma Association), the research also should be conducted in other ethnic groups to be tested validity.

RSI
In addition to the two mentioned above, the health problems that can be caused by long-term computer use is a muscle and tendon fatigue and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).

Musculoskeletal disorders caused by the use of computers ranging from muscle and tendon weakness or neck pain, and back up to a cumulative trauma. This cumulative trauma associated with the presence of repetitive movements continuously for a long time known as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). The cause of musculoskeletal disorders, among other appropriate posture happens constantly when using the computer, which is not in accordance smiles back, sitting in the same position for a period of time and poor ergonomic design.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) occurs because of physical movement that repeatedly causes damage to the tendons, nerves, muscles and other tissues. Increased use of computers with high speed in typing cause injury to the hands, arms, and shoulders.

Included in the RSI include neck pain, back pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tenosynovitis DeQuervains, Thorscic Outlet Syndrome, Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, and tennis Elbow.

Musculoskeletal disorders can be overcome by using a workplace ergonomics. Is to set the location of the computer equipment, causing a sense of comfort for your body.