7 Health Problems for the Modern Age Modern life,
with its emphasis on information, automation, computerization, and
globalization, has made work easier and given us more leisure options, but we
now have a whole host of new health problems. Only time will tell if these
modern health problems disappear like 8-track tapes and rotary phones. Until
then, here are some of the new maladies we have in store for us. Computer
Vision Syndrome If you spend all day staring at a computer screen, you
may be at risk for computer vision syndrome (CVS), also called occupational
asthenopia(弱视的). CVS encompasses all eye or vision-related problems suffered by
people who spend a lot of time on computers. According to the American
Optometric Association, symptoms of CVS include headaches; dry, red, or burning
eyes; blurred or double vision; trouble focusing; difficulty distinguishing
colors; sensitivity to light; end even pain in the neck or back. As many as 75
percent of computer users have symptoms of CVS due to glare, poor lighting, and
improper workstation setup. To overcome CVS, keep your monitor about two feet
away from you and six inches. below eye level, and be sure it’s directly in
front of yon to minimize eye movement. Adjust lighting to, remove any glare or
reflections. You can also adjust the brightness on your monitor to ease
eyestrain. Even simple steps can help, like looking away from your monitor every
20 or 30 minutes and focusing on something farther away. And you can always use
eyedrops to perk up your peepers! Earbud-related Hearing
Loss Earbuds are the headphones used with many digital music
players. They fit inside the ear but don’t cancel out background noise,
requiring users to turn up the volume, often to 110 to 120 decibels--loud enough
to cause hearing loss after only an hour end 15 minutes. And today, people spend
much more time listening to their portable players, exposing themselves to
damaging noise for longer periods of time. As a result, young people are
developing the type of heating loss normally seen in much older adults. Experts
recommend turning down the volume and limiting die amount of time spent
listening to music players to about an hour a day. Headphones that fit outside
the ear canal also help, as can noise-canceling headphones that reduce
background noise so listeners don’t have to crank up the
volume. E-thrombosis This condition is related to deep
vein thrombosis(血栓症), where blood clots form in deep veins, such as those in the
legs. These clots can be fatal if they migrate to the lungs and cause a
pulmonary embolism. Clots can form when blood supply slows or stops, such as in
a period of prolonged immobility. Similarly, e-thrombosis is the development of
clots in the deep veins of someone who spends long amounts of time in front of a
computer without moving. Although only a handful of e-thrombosis cases have been
reported, millions of people who spend most of their time in front of a computer
are at risk. Avoiding e-thrombosis is simple: stand up and move around every
hour, tap your toes while you work, put equipment end supplies in different
parts of your work area so you have to move to get them, don’t cross your legs
while sitting at your desk, don’t spend your lunch break at your desk (go for a
quick walk instead), and don’t get too comfortable --if your workspace is
ultra-cozy, you won’t want to get up. Generalized Anxiety
Disorder We all have worries, uncertainties, and fears, but
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is excessive or unrealistic unease or concern
about life’s problems. Although the disorder often manifests without any
specific cause, large issues of modern life (such as terrorism, the economy, and
crime) can bring it about, as can individual circumstances like dealing with an
illness. GAD affects about 6.8 million people in the United States, and symptoms
include restlessness, fatigue, irritability, impatience, difficulty
concentrating, headaches, upset stomach, and shortness of breath. Anxiety
disorders like GAD are treated with antianxiety drugs, antidepressants,
psychotherapy, or a combination of these. Orthorexia Nervosa
It seems like every day there’s a new report about something you shouldn’t
eat. The constant bombardment of information about food end health can confuse
anyone, but for people who have the eating disorder orthorexia nervusa, it can
be downright dangerous. People with this condition are, obsessed with eating
healthful food and have constructed strict diets that they follow religiously.
Although many people who have orthorexia nervosa become underweight, thinness is
not their goal--nutritional purity is. Among the signs of orth0rexia nervosa are
spending more than three hours a day thinking about healthful food; planning
meals days in advance; feeling virtuous from following a strict healthful diet,
but not enjoying eating; feeling socially isolated (such strict diets make it
bard to eat anywhere but at home); and feeling highly, critical of those who do
not follow a similar diet. Although the psychiatric community does not
officially recognize orthorexia nervosa as a disorder, those with the condition
benefit from psychological treatment and sessions with eating-disorder
specialists. Sick Building Syndrome Rising energy
costs aren’t just harmful to your wallet; if you work in an office building,
they could be making you physically ill. Businesses have found that by packing
buildings with insulation then adding caulking and weather stripping,. they can
seal buildings tight, keep indoor temperatures constant, and cut energy costs in
the process. Such measures require the healing, ventilating, and air
conditioning (HVAC) systems to work harder to recycle air. After all, when the
building is sealed, you can’t open a window to let fresh air circulate. The
result is sick building syndrome, which the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) classifies as a situation where building occupants experience
discomforting health effects even though no specific cause can be found.
Symptoms include headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or
itchy skin; dizziness; nausea; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors. The EPA
estimates that 30 percent of all U.S. office buildings could be "sick," so they
recommend routine maintenance of HVAC systems, including cleaning or replacing
filters; replacing water-stained ceiling tiles and carpeting; restricting
smoking in and around buildings; and ventilating areas where paints, adhesives,
or solvents are used. Social Anxiety Disorder Despite
all the ways to interact with others in our technologically savvy world, those
with social anxiety disorder feel boxed in by the shrinking globe. According to
the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people with social anxiety disorder
have an "intense, persistent, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by
others and of doing things that will embarrass them," and that fear can be so
intense that it interferes with work, school, and other ordinary activities end
can make it hard to make and keep friends. But the condition has physical
manifestations, too, including trembling, upset stomach, heart palpitations,
confusion, and diarrhea. The cause hasn’t been nailed down, but social anxiety
disorder is probably due to a combination of environmental and hereditary
factors. About 15 million people in the United States are affected by social
anxiety disorder, winch .usually begins during childhood. Like other anxiety
disorders, treatment often involves medication and psychotherapy. Why the constant bombardment of information about food is bad for people who have the eating disorder orthorexia nervosa
A.Because they will follow the information seriously. B.Because they will aim to become thinner. C.Because they won’t make suitable plans. D.Because they won’t enjoy eating.