Our health once we survive this pandemic

It’s been three months already since most of us are locked up inside our house. Everyone either rich or poor struggles to move and do the living we normally do, especially today which is supposed be hot and enjoyable summertime. However, since we are mandated to stay at home we could not help but reminisce about the fun memories we had last summer or before we are brought to this abnormal situation.

One thing which everybody could unconsciously be thankful for is the existence of technology particularly our tablet, iPhone, Andriod, and a lot more. These things surely help make our lives easier, comfortable, and somehow sustainable during this crisis. Through them, we users are taken into entertainment sections or health and fitness, or different applications to make this crisis a light burden for the frontliners and for us who save the world by staying at home. But aside from these, our health authorities are now combating the virus with the joint effort of Google and Apple. With the help of software developers, they are now contributing by crafting a technical tool, a Bluetooth-based contract tracing platform, in order to fight the virus and save lives according to an Apple Newsroom site.

If the world has gone into a possible financial collapse perhaps this marks the end of the Industrial and the start of Informative age as the famous American entrepreneur, Robert Kiyosaki, would say, and it’s a very big move according to him. We are now to face a virtual world that soon to be a reality or the new normal. But before this prophecy comes true, we got to remember that we have adapted and trained our life already and develop our relationship with technology more dependent. Truly, the rapid advancement of technology makes a big change in our life but a study reminds us that there are evident negative effects of technology and its overuse as well. An article in Medical Use Today last February this year says that overuse of technology gives as psychological effects such as isolation and depression and anxiety. Another concern also in the physical health effects like eyestrain that can include blurred vision and dry eyes, poor posture, or musculoskeletal issues that we got from hunching forward while looking down at the screen which gives pressure on the neck and spine. The article also includes sleep problems. According to the study, this effect has to do with the blue light from cell phones, e-readers, and computers that stimulate the brain. And of course the last negative effect is the reduced physical activity which contributes to obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and premature death. Thanks to health authorities and experts for those reminders but sad to say only a few of us are capable of remembering them to do self-care.

Once we survive this pandemic, we are thankful to God for a strong immunity but whatever negative effects soon we got from the overuse of technology, the same formula, let’s ask God not to leave us.

Readers, it is our choice. If sickness and death are natural, we better make ourselves and our loved ones insured and financially protected. Be safe in this new normal.

Edmer John Caballes

Cebu City