HEALTH ISSUES

We sit in front of the computer looking into the screen without taking a break and blinking
eyelid. This hurts many parts of our body. Before the problems go out of hand and we may have to
say goodbye to using this machine, let us deal with it.
Problem Area: Lower back Pain
• Causes: Wrong type of chair or desk, Right chair an desk but wrong posture, Sitting on the
edge of the chair, sitting with all the weight on one buttock by sitting cross legged.
Corrective Measures: Always go for a chair that has a mechanism for lowering and
raising the height of the backrest. Never buy a computer chair that has arms rest.
Problem Area: Neck Pain
• Causes: While typing when one is moving the neck up and down, left and right too much it
causes neck pain. Use of wrong type of glasses (like bifocals), Height of screen. It may
sound strange to some of you but some people sit on the computer with mouthpiece of
phone hanging around their neck. This casual attitude is not cool at all!
Corrective Measures: A document holder is a must to restrict neck movement. Take
opticians advice and go for special glasses that you can use while in front of the computer.
Screen’s height should be adjusted parallel to eyesight – not too high and not too low.
Problem Area: Pain In Wrists & Fingers
• Causes: Height of the chair not adjusted properly. If you have bought the right chair you
might a well make use of it! Striking the keys too hard. Mouse is not close to the body.
Corrective Measures: Height of the chair should make a perfect L between the shoulder,
elbow and wrist. This ensures fingers and keys or mouse are at a perfect horizontal.
Clicking finger is also horizontal for that perfect wrist support. Mouse should be placed
right in front of the shoulder, close to our body.
Problem Area: Strain In the Eyes
• Causes: Glare from monitor, sun glare directly coming in straight on to the monitor from
windows, lighting arrangement of the room are some causes that put strain on the eyes.
Corrective Measures: The correct thing to do is to place the computer table between lights
and not directly under them. The best alternative is to switch off the overhead light and
switch on the angle poise lamp. Ask your optician to put slight tint coat on your glasses.
Adjust monitor’s contrast and brightness. Make sure the distance is right. Opt for a 17inch
SVGA or XGA screen.
Some Important Tips & Reminders
• Wrong chair or a chair not adjusted properly can result into knee, buttocks and shoulder
pain also. Get to know about posture breaks and wrist exercise. Room temperature also
plays an important part. Pain in the muscles may result into spasm if temperature of the
room you are working in is very low. To avoid dehydration work in a room with fewer
computers and people and avoid endless rounds of tea and coffee. Take to water. It won’t
turn you into fish! Keep everything you need like stationery, CDs etc at a distance that you
can reach without overstretching yourself each time. Drawers also should be easily
reachable and smooth to open.