Life without some sort of digital device accompanying your daily routine would seem somewhat abnormal. Be it a desktop computer, laptop, phone, or tablet; many hours are spent behind screens. In February 2019, a study from Statista conveyed that 74 percent of Americans owned a desktop or laptop computer. With 4.7 million people already working from home before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, statisticians anticipate a looming spike in how much time we spend in the face of blue light in 2020.
What is Blue Light?
Have you ever watched a sunset and noticed how all the colors blend into our blue sky? If you imagine that color spectrum, you will note that blue light is quickly spotted compared to some pinks and reds. Technically speaking, blue light is a short wavelength and produces a higher energy amount than some of those other colors. We can see it pretty well, and we have intentionally brought it further into our lives with digital devices.
Impacts of Blue Light & Screen Time
Harvard Medical School recently updated an article for Harvard Health Publishing called “Blue Light Has A Dark Side.” I’m sure you’re thankful for your ability to surf the interwebs using various portable devices. Yet, there are some downsides to regularly exposing yourself to blue light. In their article, Harvard Medical School said that blue light could impact our ability to sleep longer and well. The presence of blue wavelengths, caused indoors by digital devices with screens, can be disruptive at night.
Aside from impacts to your nightly sleep schedule, a website dedicated to blue light called Blue Light Exposed notes some other side effects:
“Blue light waves are among the shortest, highest-energy wavelengths in the visible light spectrum. Because they are shorter, these “Blue” or High Energy Visible (HEV) wavelengths flicker more easily than longer, weaker wavelengths. This kind of flickering creates a glare that can reduce visual contrast and affect sharpness and clarity.
This flickering and glaring may be one reason for eye strain, headaches, physical and mental fatigue caused by many hours sitting in front of a computer screen or other electronic devices.”
If you get headaches at the end of each day, you’re not alone. Researchers worldwide have found that between 19 and 53 percent of people with long screen time exposures suffer headaches as a frequent side effect.
How to Mitigate Blue Light Impacts
So, in the age of remote working and devoting most of our days to screens, how do we safely subdue eye strains and headaches caused by our favorite tools?
Many people have turned to invest in blue light blocking glasses; others aim to limit screen time altogether. You can also choose to download a blue light filter app for your mobile device and take what we like to call “blink breaks.”
(Blue light has been linked to the cause of decreases blinking, causing your eyes to feel tired and strain more.)
Another option is consulting with your local Foundational Chiropractor. These are non-traditional chiropractors that focus on correcting the small bones of the upper neck back to NORMAL. Because of its association with the nerves and the pressure, realigning these foundational bones may help relieve those awful migraines and headaches.
The American Chiropractic Association explains on this webpage that studies surrounding the correlation between spinal manipulation and headaches have been optimistic about improving migraines altogether.
If you are located near Lutz or Odessa, you can receive a complimentary consultation at Foundation Chiropractic. You can easily schedule your consultation by calling 813-578-5889 or going here.
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