With passing years, technology emerged as one of the constituents of life and it altered ways in which individuals communicate, work and even care for health. Starting from smart belts and watches to remote consultations and intelligent healthcare technologies, IT is changing the health and breast cancer management alike making it available and tailored to everyone. But, like every other good thing, it has its negative effects that people should be concerned about. In this post, we will cover both sides of the coin that is the impact of technology on health and suggest ways making this frontier useful and not harmful for us.
The Positive Impact of Technology on Health
- Greater Access to Healthcare
Healthcare services will be availed at greater scope relative to the past owing to the introduction of technology. Through telemedicine portals a great segment in the society is today able to access services of health practitioners without leaving their houses. This situation is highly supportive especially for the elderly or patients in far and distributed regions. Mobile communication or the many applications with images of a doctor enable him/her to ‘see’ patients and treat them without traveling to their places, hence facilitating healthcare provision.
- Health Tracking
Smart timepieces and physical activity wristbands enable consumers to manage their health. Such devices are able to record the heart rate, the number of steps taken, the duration of sleep or even the stress experienced by the user, all in realtime. This feedback is invaluable as it gives the person a personal view of his health and how they conduct their daily activities. This type of self-monitoring also promotes a more holistic way of actively engaging in activities within one’s environment and can also be used as a red flag for any negative health behaviors.
- Diagnostics in the Age of AI And Machine Learning
The prospects of artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning application technologies provide an ideal solution for this complication in the form of speedy diagnosis and effective results. AI application features such integrated database to study more data faster to identify patterns that not even an eye could perceive. For example, imaging studies, such as x-rays or MRIs, could benefit from AI assistance to increase the early detection of life-threatening illnesses such as cancer. This is helping to improve treatment outcomes and decrease the chances of successful diagnosis but inaccurate treatment.
- Support Regarding Mental Disorders
Mental health apps and cyber therapy trends have improved people’s access to treatment for mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and stress. These include most of the subjects in app-based interventions, psychoeducation, and relaxation techniques, including meditation, or mindfulness practice which could be done anytime.This availability of materials on mental health at any night or day can help improve treatment outcomes of people who do not find in person therapy accessible.
The Detrimental Effects of Technology on Health
Even though everyone adores the advantage delivered by technology in health care, it is crucial to address the disadvantages as well.
- Sedentarism within Health Issues Due to Excessive Screen Engagement
Excessive screen time has become one of the barely disguised ills of the modern age and society. The constant use of cellphone devices, tablets, or laptops increases sedentary living which in turn leads to obesity, cardiovascular diseases, poor body posture among other health problems. Therefore, excessive computer related activities also lead to overexposure to screens, which in turn causes overuse and strain of the eyes, termed digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome, which headache, blurred vision as well as and discomfort.
- Brain Health Issues Experts Associate With New Technologies
Technology can act as a tool that helps people lead healthier lives, providing support for the mental illness regardless. However, such social aspect of technologies has proven to be quite detrimental as well. Young adults, especially, have developed issues such as anxiety, depression, and low self-worth as a result of social media. Because social media encourages certain behaviors (i.e., seeking ‘likes,’ fear of missing out (FOMO), comparison) which induces stress and can be harmful to mental health.
- Data Privacy and Security
There are various technologies that are being deployed within the healthcare industry. This has, however, raised concerns on the health information privacy and security. Health technology, health apps, devices, and the Internet have become a source of huge sensitive information which is prone to cyberattacks or data loss. This begs the questions of the extent to which the technologies in question are safe and if all these information is used in a proper manner.
Finding a Healthy Balance
Because technology has loads of advantages and negative impacts on health, its use has to be done from the middle of the extremes. Here are a few tips for maintenance of that balance:
Establish provide screen time limitation policy: Observe the amount of time that one uses in front of a screen and observe the responsibility of taking breaks to avoid unnecessary strain and fatigue.
Engage in physical activities: Take care to fit in some movements in the day, whether by working out, walking or even standing up, Stretching helps too.
Do not abuse technology: Take care not to spend too much time on Facebook and other such sites. At times switch off your gadgets and rejuvenate by taking a break from the internet.
Safeguard the information of the user: Always check the privacy policies and make sure that the information will be kept in a decent place before one indulges in any health applications or platforms.
Conclusion
Technology has the power to improve our health in remarkable ways, from enhancing accessibility to healthcare to enabling personalized wellness tracking and more accurate diagnostics. However, it also comes with challenges such as the rise of screen-related health issues, mental health risks, and data security concerns. The key to navigating this landscape is to use technology mindfully, ensuring that we leverage its benefits without letting it negatively affect our well-being.
By finding a healthy balance, we can harness the full potential of technology to enhance our lives while safeguarding our physical and mental health.