StemCell Therapy

Charlotte, NC Quick question: Are you holding your breath right now? If youre anything like the rest of us you probably answered. Yes.

Holding your breath or breathing at a shallower rate when youre using any kind of screen is a Real Thing. It even has a name: Screen apnea. Others have dubbed it email apnea, or, more recently, Zoom apnea, after the online meeting app.

Screen apnea was first brought to attention by Linda Stone, a writer/researcher, and former Apple and Microsoft executive, who noticed that the vast majority of us hold our breath or breathe shallowly while using screens.

And its getting a lot more attention now that COVID-19 has radically changed the workday for millions of Americans who now spend countless hours transfixed by phone and computer screens. Dreaded meetings that at least offered a chance to connect now mean: more screen time.

So, if Zoom leaves you feeling depleted, know youre not alone. Feeling trapped at your desk under the gaze of multiple moving headshotsisanxiety-provoking.

The performative aspect alone maintaining a pleasant facial expression while others speak, planning a thoughtful response, and being the center of unwavering attention while you talk can cause a sense of stage fright. Big hint: Turning off the camera can help.

The short answer is: Yes, according toDr. Russell GreenfieldofNovant Health Integrative Medicine.

Over time, screen apnea can:

Screen apnea alters your bodys delicate balance of gasses like oxygen, nitric oxide, and carbon dioxide, Greenfield said. This can cause inflammation and interfere with your immune systems ability to fight infection.

Not exactly good news during the coronavirus pandemic, when we all want our immune systems functioning like well-oiled machines.

Its pretty safe to assume weallhave screen apnea to some degree, Greenfield said, as we focus on devices and spend less time on the aspects of our lives that enhance a sense of peace and comfort.

By changing our habits around three key contributing factors of screen apnea posture, stress, and the breath itself Greenfield said we can protect our health and simply feel better day-to-day.

Most of us think of ergonomics in relation to back pain or repetitive-stress injuries. But ergonomics also affects our breathing.

For example, when we work on computers,e lean forward, extend our necks and round our shoulders, while compressing the rib cage. Strategies:

Relying more on email and texts robs us of vital information wed normally get at the workplace: facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. That makes it easier for misunderstandings, frustration, and anger to flare, which leads to more stress and poor breathing a vicious cycle. Greenfields advice:

Breathing is one of the few critical body functions we can control. Thats good news it means we can retrain ourselves to breathe in a healthier manner, Greenfield said.

We tend to think of our bodies as isolated parts and systems lungs, heart, brain but everything is interrelated, Greenfield said. The truth is: Our breath is intimately connected to multiple aspects of our well-being.

The foundation of almost every meditation practice, including mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), breathing slowly and deeply enables us to be fully present, and to offer our complete attention to whatever were engaged in. To breathe better:

Bottom line: Paying just a little more attention to your body, your screen habits, and your breathing can improve your life, safeguard your health, and keep your resilience strong.

Read the original post:
Why Heavy Zoom and Screen Time is Hazardous to your Health - Mint Hill Times

This entry was posted on September 5, 2020 at 1:50 am and is filed under Integrative Medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |