After few minutes of summing up courage to face the new millennium’s tyranny “Technology”, I have reached the conclusion that someone should stand up and say “Enough”. I will only confine my scope to impact of Technology on human health and well being.
Machines started to spread around the globe since 18th century, from simple ones like the levers to complicated ones like jet engines and Robotics, but all of them shared one thing, besides making human jobs easier and more efficient , they made our bodies weaker and fatter. 100 years ago, health’s main enemy was Infections; today it is cancer and cardiovascular diseases, in which both of them are mainly due to machines.
It would be fair to point out that Advances in technology made our old enemy “Infections” retreat to the bottom in the causes of mortality, but there are many pros as cons in having technology.
I would divide Technology’s impact on humans to two ways:-
Direct; as in Radiations causing Cancers.
Indirect; environmental pollution and Lung diseases.
Also since the emergence of internet and Televisions human contact has been decreased thus making social communication skill less developed then in our previous ancestors and making certain individuals prone to psychiatric disorders.
Obesity is a risk factor for Hypertension and atherosclerosis which are the main cause cardiovascular disease and strokes. Obesity is a result of metabolic syndrome which is the igniting event for this vicious cycle.
Needles to say Machines doing much of our work is a contemporary issue that all healthcare providers should advice their communities about, e.g if your school, university or work place is less than 2 km – 3 km , you don’t need to take a bus or a car , walk there, assembly lines are being introduced to industries each day, thus increasing the rate of unemployment which by itself causes indirectly health hazards, Try to avoid using calculators for simple mathematical equations since active brain may postpone or even prevent occurrence of several types of dementia et cetera.
In short “When ever you body is viable use it”
Advice to our fellow Engineers, scientists and
Some Advices that may save you…
ü Mobile phones may cause various types of cancers; when ever you can put them away do it.
ü Sit at least sit 2 meters away from TV screens.
ü Avoid hanging around Electrical Base stations.
