Health on Computer: How Are Computers Degrading Your Overall Health?

How could a small device such as a laptop or smart phone have such serious long-term effects on your body? Could computers and technology really be negatively affecting your wellbeing? Absolutely! Although these devices may seem harmless (as I'm sure your using one right now as you read this), they can have a serious repercussions over time.

As an ergonomics consultant and a fitness & nutrition enthusiast, I have the opportunity to notice and uncover the HUGE negative impact that computers have on human health. How, you might ask?

There are many risk factors, but I'm going to touch on the most important one which is lack of movement. Your body requires movement. By getting up and regularly moving around, you can solve a lot of these developing issues. One type of risk that develops from lack of movement is musculoskeletal risks (muscles, tendons, joints, bones, eyes). Movement helps increase circulation. The enhanced blood flow delivers fresh oxygen to fatigued areas as well as removes lactic acid that causes discomfort. Movement also keeps your spine healthy. Every time you sit down, your spine begins to lose fluid, leaving you more susceptible to injury. As you get up and move around, your spine regenerates this fluid which reduces compression of your spinal discs and prevents them from rubbing against each other.

Not only can lack of movement cause musculoskeletal risks, it can also affect your cardiovascular system. Technology has continually allowed the human race to become lazy. Instead of walking, we drive cars. Instead of manual labor, we type on computers. Instead of walking in the park, we play video games. Just as the musculoskeletal system requires movement, your cardiovascular system also requires movement (if not more)! The more sedentary lifestyle that one leads, the more susceptible they become to diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, obesity and atherosclerosis.

The final risk factor brought on by lack of movement that I wanted to mention is stress. Many studies suggest that physically active individuals have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary individuals. Unfortunately, if you work at a computer 40-50 hours a week, and watch TV another 10-20 hours, you could already be considered sedentary, even if you exercise regularly. The brain requires movement and caloric expenditure for proper functioning and wellbeing.

These are just a few of the issues that I see every day working with individuals in an office or technology-based job setting. The solution? Get up and move around! Park in the furthest parking spot, drink lots of water to force more bathroom breaks, plan "walking meetings" when possible, and walk or go exercise during your lunch. If you think these risks are going to suddenly disappear, you're wrong unless you do something about it! Be proactive with your health. Incorporate plenty of movement throughout your day, exercise regularly, and watch what you eat.

Patrick Lohman, MS, CSCS, is an ergonomics consultant/fitness and nutrition specialist for many large corporations and small businesses across the U.S. He has worked with thousands of end users, helping them reach their fitness/nutrition goals and finding creative solutions to their health and productivity issues.

Are you a high-duration computer user? Do you suffer from a lack of mental focus, eye strain, back/shoulder/neck discomfort, or other general health risks from your sedentary lifestyle. Try a solution that's customized just for you! Office Strong is a natural dietary supplement that is specifically formulated for the inactive lifestyle of computer users. It works to improve focus, energy, memory, eye health, circulation, nerve function, discomfort, fatigue, and other ergonomic issues. Learn more at http://www.getofficestrong.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/getofficestrong

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What Is a Sit Stand Stool?

 Have you been finding yourself feeling like your workstation and office chair are lower than your fellow coworkers as of late? There is quite possibly a reasonable explanation for this, as a new unique form of seating has quickly emerged into more workspaces with its growing popularity. This new wave of ergonomic seating is known as sit stand seating. What once began as a trend in industrial work places with assembly or production lines where workers are required to stand for multiple hours throughout the day has now been making its way into more traditional office settings where employees are required to sit for the majority of their work day. The negative health effects associated with sitting for extended periods of time quickly brought upon the need for a healthier work station set up and along came the sit stand stool.

A sit stand stool enables the user to relieve stress when standing for long durations of time. With its small footprint, this stool takes up a limited amount of space making it a viable option for those that have a small office space to work with or spaces where employees work within close proximity of one another. These stools are designed to allow the user to lean back against while standing when they need a break or to sit on when their legs become fatigued. They are armless and comes with stationary rubber glides to keep the chair in place when the user leans back.

With the dramatic growth in popularity over the recent years combined with the increase in demand, there are now many different sit stand models available for purchase. The most popular type is the industrial model, a solid choice for industrial environments where assembly lines are used. Industrial sit stand stools typically feature adjustable seat height, steel frame design, seat angle adjustment, and a puncture resistant seat. Another popular version is the upholstered ergonomic sit stand stool. These are more common in the office environments with their ability to blend in with pre-existing furniture designs and office decor. They also have the ability to adjust the seat height along with the seat angle. A newer model that has been released recently is the saddle sit stand stool allowing the user to lean against the stool or sit in a widened stance to fit the saddle curved seat.

Sit stand stools are best used at extended height work stations or sit stand desks where workers have the option to sit or stand throughout the day. By making it possible to both sit and stand while working, you are then able to gain much more movement and variation throughout the day thereby creating a healthier work environment. This additional movement relieves aching muscles and changes the focus from feeling uncomfortable in an office chair to what should be your main focus, your work! Key benefits of using these specialized stools include better health by pressure relief on the spine and pelvic area, higher energy levels, improved work comfort, higher productivity, better blood circulation, and stronger muscles.

Whether you are looking to find an alternative solution for your uncomfortable outdated office chair or simply want to take part in the ever-growing trend of working at a sit stand work station, a sit stand stool is both a healthy and ergonomic option.

Chelsea Alves is the marketing manager for Sitbetter.com, a company with more than 30 years experience in the office seating and office furniture industry. Dedicated to finding the best chairs for you, at the best price possible, with the best customer service available. For more information on sit stand stools please visit http://www.sitbetter.com/sorted/search/stools/Sit_Stand_Stools/

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Powering A Classroom

Powering an educational establishment is a big task. An entire school is usually on full power for twelve hours a day, with some teachers getting to work at 7:30am to prepare for the day or kitchen staff coming in to open up a breakfast club and prepare school lunches. Although the children may leave at 3:30, many teachers stay behind for several hours after closing time to complete marking or prepare their work for the next day. Powering a school is a huge job, but even powering an individual classroom is a massive task. A modern classroom has enough computers for every child and many have interactive touch screens to aid learning. Managing power in a classroom, particularly managing it safely, can be a difficult job.

One of the most important parts of powering a classroom, which many people forget about, is getting the lighting right. The lighting in a classroom needs to be perfect; bright enough to see but not so bright that children and teachers get headaches. Lighting that is too bright can often make people feel more tired and prevent them from learning. A good way to prevent this is to have a system of light switches that allow some lights to be on while others are off. Classrooms can now have intelligent lighting systems where the lights can be programmed in advance so they turn on and off automatically at set times. Dimmer switches are also useful to have in classrooms so lighting can be changed according to the amount of light coming through the window rather than just on and off.

If students have their own computers, there should be cable trunking systems in place to protect the wiring and stop children from tripping over loose cables. If the computers are along the walls, a cable trunking system will keep cables pressed against the wall. If the cable trunking system is large enough it will also protect a power distribution unit. Power distribution units will allow lots of computers to be plugged in to one place and help keep the cables together in the cable trunking system.

Ergonomic workstations will also be beneficial in a classroom as it is important that children learn how to sit and work comfortably at a young age, especially now many jobs involve working at a computer all day. Adjustable monitor stands means that students can move their computer screens to a place that is comfortable for them and allows them to work happily.

Effective power management and space management is very important in any learning environment. Without adequate space and power resources, children may find it difficult to learn. Computer skills are now taught at a very early age and children should be able to use them effectively and understand why using computers is so important.

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