Your Smartphone Might Be Giving You ADHD, Here’s What You Need to Know

 The notion that children can somehow stop experiencing the symptoms of ADHD as they get on in years has been thoroughly debunked by science, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, there is a chance that smartphones might actually be giving adults ADHD without them even realizing it. This type of disorder usually originates in children under the age of 12, but it seems as though smartphones are causing adults to develop the symptoms related to it as well with all things having been considered and taken into account.

It bears mentioning that the symptoms can look rather different in adults than they do for children, with anger management issues, excessive restlessness, low self esteem, trouble with relationships, a lack of time management skills and many others factoring into the mix. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the proportion of adults with ADHD was around 6.3% in 2020, which is a significant uptick from the 4.4% that had been diagnosed with it in 2003.

According to research that was published in the journal known as Journal of the American Medical Association, the use of digital media can actually increase the likelihood of an ADHD diagnosis by as much as 10%. What's more is that adults are often required to multitask at this current point in time, which can be harmful because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up pulling their minds in too many different directions at once.

There is now considerable clinical evidence pointing to the reality that using too much technology can lead to ADHD symptoms down the line. Of course, there is also the chance that they might be caused by hormonal changes or a wide range of other unrelated circumstances, but the connection between ADHD and digital media consumption as well as smartphone usage can’t be ignored. It will be interesting to see where things go from here on out, since the findings presented in this research point to something extremely pertinent to modern life.

Photo: Digital Information World - AIgen

Use of Screens for More than 7 Hours a Day Harms the Physical as Well as Mental Health of Individuals

 A report presented by the American Optometric Association (AOA) shows that more than 7 hours of screen time is very harmful to our health and it costs about $73 billion per year to the US economy. Avoiding the use of digital devices and screens is very tough because most of our lives revolve around them nowadays. But, it has many harmful effects on our health too. The report found out that using screens more than 7 hours a day can result in myopia which is also known as nearsightedness. There can also be issues with digital eye strain (DES) or computer vision syndrome (CVS). The symptoms and effects of these health conditions include dry eyes, blurry vision, headaches, and back and neck pain.

Photo: Digital Information World - AIgen

If people don't take DES seriously, it can also result in a decrease in their productivity, dealing with some other eye problems, and harmful consequences on sleep schedule, and mental health. Some of its other effects can include over-presence in the workplace or being absent a lot during work hours. When an individual suffers from these conditions, he will have to frequently visit his health providers too and that will result in spending a lot of money. Overall, the quality of life will see a huge decline.

The solution to all these problems isn't only reducing your screen time and be mindful of those devices, especially among people whose jobs depend on spending time in front of screens. 70% of the individuals who do office jobs need to spend their time using screens as compared to 42% of the people who have some other professions. The best way to keep yourself safe from DES is by looking for its symptoms and regular eye checkups. Also, wear some eyewear recommended by an eye specialist while working in front of a screen. You can also follow a 20-20-20 rule where with every 20 minutes on screen, you have to look at something 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds. Don't forget to manage and fix your posture too by using a chair and table suitable for your height. Taking breaks between working on screens is also very beneficial for your physical as well as mental health.