![]() ![]() ![]() Some other precautions you can take: Load up on nutrients that have been shown to combat some of the symptoms of computer vision syndrome-specifically, the carotenoid antioxidants zeaxanthin 4, lutein 4, and astaxanthin 5, found in green veggies and a variety of colorful plant foods like these. (Also consider trying out some of these amazing expert tips on how to raise a wild child in the age of tech.) If you immediately feel better, you have a clear indication of how screens are affecting you.įor kids, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 3 avoiding digital media altogether for toddlers younger than 18-24 months (other than things like periodic video chatting with relatives), and limiting screen use for children ages 2-5 to one hour a day of high-quality programming, preferably with an adult. If you find yourself experiencing symptoms like insomnia, short-term memory loss, anxiety, worsening vision, headaches, or brain fog, see your personal doctor for an evaluation first, but then try limiting screen time to six hours per day, avoiding all screens at least one hour before bed and taking the weekends "off" from social media. However, the study also found that kids who had more than two hours of screen time per day scored lower on thinking and language tests. At this point, researchers aren't sure if that's a bad thing and won't know exactly what it means until they follow these children over time. Findings from an ongoing NIH study on 9- and 10-year-olds show that those who use smartphones, tablets, and video games more than seven hours a day are more likely to have premature thinning of the cortex-the outermost layer of the brain where most information processing occurs. These areas are also specifically involved in our development of empathy and compassion as well as translation of physical signals into emotion.Īdditionally, kids are at risk, too. These affected areas where volume loss is seen are responsible for critical cognitive functions such as planning, prioritizing, organizing, impulse control, and reward pathways. On the structural side, individuals who are perceived as having an online game addiction show significant gray matter atrophy in various areas of the brain (right orbitofrontal cortex, bilateral insula, and right supplementary motor area) once examined on brain MRI studies. These habits are causing what top neuroscientists have called "digital dementia," harming important right-brain functions including short-term memory, attention, and concentration in ways that may or may not be reversible. This problematic use of cellphones has been associated with anxiety, stress, and even depression 1. Meanwhile, most people are checking their phones at least 150 times a day and sending upward of 100-plus texts. A study of students in 10 countries showed the majority feel acute distress if they have to go without their phones for 24 hours. The effects on your brain are both behavioral and structural.įirst, smartphone addiction is real.
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