As computers and other electronic devices are becoming more widely used — particularly by young people — little consideration is normally given to the health risks they pose. This is a situation that has to change soon, to avoid unnecessary injuries and even serious health risks among people using them.
Desktops monitors and laptops can cause physical problems, particularly when their users are forced to bend their bodies to see the screens better. Neck or back pain caused by the strain can have serious health consequences. A 2007 study has found that chronic neck or back pain was the leading cause of missed work days in the United States. The impact of this finding in the national economy should not be disregarded.
In addition to the risks posed by desk top computers and laptops, other electronic devices such as iPads, tablets and smart phones can alter sleep patterns in ways and to an extent that we had realized so far. A study published in the U.S. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences show that people using iPads for at least four hours before bedtime took longer to fall asleep than people who hadn't used them.