MODULE 4
HUMAN HEALTH IN THE INTERNET AGE
INTRODUCTION
Technology is adored by all. In almost every aspect of our everyday lives, we use
technology. We're spending more and more time in front of our phones, desktops, tablets, and
laptops. Many of us have come to appreciate and rely on technology for its convenience, but
many of us are also concerned about the influence it may have on our health. Can too much
screen time cause serious health problems?
If you're concerned about the impact of screen time on your health and well-being, now
could be a good time to think about how your beloved gadgets might be doing more than just
keeping you connected and engaged.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this topic, students should be able to:
1. Measure the amount of self-exposure to gadgets;
2. Identify the different health hazards of over-exposure to technology gadgets;
3. Weigh in the importance of technology and its impact to human health; and
4. Discuss how we could best protect our health from the danger or risk of technology.
Activity:
Let’s dig in. Please use a separate sheet to answer the questions below. Check the appropriate
box as to how many times you access the social media. The number of times pertain at least 30
minutes of exposure per count.
More
1-4 5-7 1-5 6-10 than 10
Almost times a times a times times times a
Never never week week a day a day day
No. Questions (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
1 How often do you
access your social
media account?
2 Instead of phone text
messaging, how often
do use your
messenger to
communicate with your
contacts?
3 On average, how often
do you share
information, photos,
videos, shout outs or
posts in the social
media
4 How often do you play
online or offline games
in your phones or in
computers?
5 How often do you
access the internet, for
other purposes other
than social media?
Your Total Score
Count your total score by adding the equivalent value of your answer from 0 to 6 for questions 1
to 5. Interpret your score as follows:
Score Interpretation
0 to 10 - Not exposed to radiation
11 to 15 - Slightly exposed to radiation
16 to 20 - Considerably exposed to radiation
21 to 30 - Highly exposed to radiation
If you scored from 21 to 30, this means you were consuming at least 6 hours screen time a day,
or 42 hours a week. According to CareWell Urgent Care site, people with this extended screen
time tend to develop computer vision syndrome with symptoms: strained, dry eyes, blurred vision,
and headaches.
LESSON PROPER
According to statistica.com, 44.3% of Filipinos are mobile phone internet users, which is expected
to increase to 60% in 2021. Technology is considerably what’s in today. It offers a great advantage
to every individual of varied age groups. This digital age allows us to be more connected to our
loved ones from far places. For the business side, markets even reach as far as they can go
through online selling. Before, a small food store at home can only cater to buyers from the
neighborhood. But because of technology, deliveries now reach nearby towns and provinces, thus
increasing business profits.
Technology and Health Care
Technology is transforming global healthcare for almost all individuals in this world. For example,
consider how the digitization of patient information has made life easier for clinicians, making it
easier than ever to capture real-time patient data, search for personal health trends and patterns,
and research patient history. As a result, doctors, nurses, and other health professionals could
now offer faster and more accurate diagnoses, allowing them to spend more time with patients
one-on-one.
From smartphone apps that send medicine reminders to wearables that can help monitor and
prevent health concerns before they become life-threatening, the system offers patients more
ways to manage their health on their terms.
Technology and Cancer
While the digital age provides more significant benefits, scientists say that it harms human health.
Mobile phones have long been suspected of being linked to the development of brain tumors.
Cellular phones release a type of radiation known as radio-frequency energy or radio waves is
causing concern. Radiation from X-ray machines is known to increase cancer risk, prompting
experts to wonder if cell phones are similarly dangerous. X-ray machines, on the other hand, emit
high-frequency radiation, while cell phones emit low-frequency radiation. Given how we hold
phones to our ears, the head is naturally the most sensitive to any potential radiation risk. More
research is needed to determine whether cell phone use is linked to the development of brain
cancer. At this moment, there is evidence for and against a link between cell phone use and brain
cancer.
Technology and Road Accidents
In addition to the cancer risk, cell phones can cause distraction during activities, dangerous. For
example, cell phone distraction is dangerous when driving, including talking on the phone and
sending text messages. According to a study done abroad, 40% of persons asked admitted to
chatting on their phone while driving at least a few times each week, and 13% admitted to sending
messages while driving.
Technology and Obesity
Overweight, obesity and the associated health hazards have become a serious national health
concern, with dramatic increases observed in the last 20 years. In addition, our expanding use of
technology, particularly in our free time, is thought to be one reason for our more sedentary
lifestyle.
We are less likely to get up and move in our free time as we spend more time conversing with our
cell phones, monitoring social websites, playing video games, and other such activities. Obesity
is linked to this type of sedentary behavior or a lack of enough physical activity. Physical inactivity
has been connected to obesity in studies, with some research examining the impact of TV viewing
and other communication-based technology on inaction. Despite the difficulties in proving a direct
link between media use and physical inactivity in research, technology remains a source of
suspicion. The simple line is that spending more time in front of a screen implies spending less
time moving.
Technology and Vision Problems
Computer Vision Syndrome, also known as Digital Eye Strain, is a collection of vision and eye
problems caused by continuous usage of a computer, tablet, e-reader, or mobile phone. When
seeing digital screens for long periods, many people can develop eye irritation and eyesight
issues. The length of time spent in front of a digital screen appears to enhance the level of
discomfort.According to aoa.org, the most common symptoms associated with Computer Vision
Syndrome (CVS) or Digital Eye Strain are
• eyestrain
• headaches
• blurred vision
• dry eyes
• neck and shoulder pain
These symptoms may be caused by:
• poor lighting
• glare on a digital screen
• improper viewing distances
• poor seating posture
• uncorrected vision problems
The extent to which people have visual symptoms, according to eye experts, is often
determined by their visual ability and the amount of time they spend looking at a digital screen.
Uncorrected vision impairments such as farsightedness and astigmatism, insufficient eye
focusing or coordination abilities, and age changes in the eyes, such as presbyopia, can all lead
to the formation of visual symptoms using a computer or digital screen device. Below is the 20-
20-20 rule recomme nded by eye experts to prevent digital eye strain.
Source: https://www.aoa.org/
Beyond Physical Health
Emotional and Psychological Consequences Beyond Physical Health Driving hazards and obesity
may be more visible indicators of technology's impact on our health. Still, screen time may also
bring personal risks that go beyond the physical, such as our increased reliance on technology
altering our personal and familial connections.
The impact of our "ultra-connected" lifestyle on our personal and family connections is discussed
by experts. They claimed that our interactions with technology could have an effect on our
relationships with one another, stating that "as screen time increases, direct human-to-human
engagement decreases proportionally." Most of us have witnessed what experts call the
"Vanishing Family Trick"— a phenomenon in which family members leave a gathering one by one
to check e-mail, send a text, or engage in social media and online activities. Families may connect
on a deeper and more rewarding level if they switch off their home Internet connection for an
entire weekend. Because everyone in the family is focused on each other rather than their
gadgets, more work gets done, and enjoy bonding moments occur during programmed brownouts
or power interruptions. Though we agree that the move to offline weekends was initially difficult,
as families began to appreciate having more attention and time for one another, we could develop
family relationships and focus on the needs of family members.
Cyberstalking and cyberbullying
Another social and emotional issue that our connected culture raises is the use of cell phones
and the Internet to emotionally harm, harass, or humiliate someone by distributing hostile
comments or embarrassing images. This tendency, known as "cyber-bullying," maybe highly
harmful and has even been linked to suicides. Furthermore, the ease with which we can
communicate and obtain knowledge about one another isn't always put to good use. Personal
information can become up in the wrong hands, and you could be contacted or "cyber-stalked"
by someone you don't want to be associated with.
Balance
How we utilize technology, like so many other health-related decisions, is ultimately a personal
choice. We all know the advantages and opportunities that being connected has provided us.
However, with an understanding that technology may pose certain risks and limit specific innate
abilities (such as bonding and sharing with others), we can choose to balance our use of
technology with time away from the screen for improved safety and health, as well as perhaps
deeper bonds with those we care about.
ASSESSMENT
Activity 1:
Answer the questions below. Please use separate sheet for your answers. Use A4 size for your
document, and save it with this filename format: LASTNAME-COURSE-SECTION-GE113. Refer
to the faculty in-charge on where to send your answers.
1. What gadget do you or your family owns? How much time is your total self-exposure to
this gadget? What can you say or reflect on this?
2. What are the different health hazards caused by over exposure to gadgets? Which of
these health problems have you experienced? What did you do to overcome?
3. Share a situation in your life where you think you have benefited from using gadget or
technology. Give also one situation where you experience the hazard it caused. What can
you recommend on the balance of using gadget?
4. How do you think you can best protect yourself from the hazard of using gadgets or
technology? What possible program or project can you recommend to the government or
the university to take action in order to help its students or citizens?
Activity 2:
Listed in the first row of the table below the link of technology to its possible effect on the human
health. List down the first 5 terms that come into your mind for each Technology and Health
Concerns listed in each column.
Tech and
Tech and Tech and
Tech and Emotional and Tech and Tech and
No. Road Vision
Cancer Psychological Obesity Cyberbullying
Accidents Problem
Effect
Prepare to discuss or tell a story regarding those listed terms.
