Kids' Addiction to Gaming Lead Them to Frustration, Depression and Anxiety Along With Poor Grades in Studies - - New Study at Singapore

Kids love their video games--but according to a new study of more than 3,000 kids in Singapore--kids who considered themselves as addicts and played about 20 hours a week were more likely to be depressed, anxious and have bad grades.

 

Michelle Keiffer has three young boys--including 12 year old Ashton.

Michelle said she can notice a difference when the kids play too much.

"When we have the rainy season or the cold spells and the boys do play more video games because they're indoors we see them get shorter fuses with one another--shorter fuses with the parents," Michelle said.

Psychologist Susan Fletcher isn't surprised by the study which found 1 in 10 kids to be addicts--she said it's not necessarily the video games--but rather the time spent playing them that causes social phobias.

"It kind of takes them out of the game socially so they are less likely to lean the kinds of skills to overcome things or deal with people in a social fashion," Dr. Fletcher said.

Ashton said he knows kids who play too much and have poor social skills--and even worse grades.

"You can tell actually because if it's some kind of game like Xbox 360 or something like that and you can talk online, they kind of get some kind of interaction talking to people but other than that they can't really speak well in public or stuff like that," Ashton said.

But there is good news--researchers also found that when kids stopped playing so much their depression, grades and anxieties got better.

"Well, think about it," Dr. Fletcher said. "You get outside you feel better, depression sometimes is influenced by being in a dark room and so getting outside, getting some fresh air, getting some sun, interacting with other people can really alleviate the symptoms."

As for Michelle--she'll continue to monitor how much time her boys play video games.

"If we didn't really watch them," Michelle said. "We would probably have 24-7 gaming going on at some level."

The study appears in the February edition of Pediatrics.

The Tech-extended Day Times Disrupts Sleep Patterns Leading to Increasing Danger of Cancer

There's growing concern among experts that the proliferation of glowing gadgets like computers may fool your brain into thinking that it's still daytime after the sun has gone down. Exposure during the night can disturb sleep patterns and exacerbate insomnia.

Such concerns are not new -- Thomas Edison may have created these problems when he invented the light bulb. But the problem has grown worse thanks to the popularity of Apple's new slate computer, the iPad.

Many consumers use an iPad to read at night, and paper books or e-book readers like the Amazon Kindle, which does not emit its own light, the iPad's screen shines light directly into your eyes from a relatively close distance.

According to CNN:

"That makes the iPad and laptops more likely to disrupt sleep patterns than, say, a television sitting across the bedroom or a lamp that illuminates a paper book, both of which shoot far less light straight into the eye, researchers said."

 

Everything in nature has a rhythm, and that includes your body. The ebb and flow of the ocean's tide, the rising and setting of the sun, and the transition from one season to another all happen with comforting regularity. Your body, too, strives to keep its 24-hour cycle, or circadian rhythm, steady and even.

This is why most of us naturally feel like waking when the sun comes up, and sleeping when it's dark.

Researchers have also shown how your circadian rhythm is involved in everything from sleep, to weight gain, mood disorders, and a variety of diseases.

Unfortunately, modern life throws multiple wrenches into the works, as it were, mainly by artificially extending 'daytime.'

Technology Related Health Hazards - - Excessive Usage of Cell/Mobile Phones: A Possible Threat to Your Healthy Life

One of the most common sights we see these days, is that of people with their mobile phones next to their ears. A boon for better communication, cell phone usage nonetheless has many health hazards. Various studies indicate that the emissions from a cell phone can be extremely harmful, causing genetic damage, tumors, memory loss, and increased blood pressure and weakening of the immune system. This is alarming information, and one has to take into account all these factors..

CELL PHONES AND HEALTH

Though there is no evidence of cell phones causing cancer or any such illness, but the suspicion, or fear of the same is not baseless either. The electromagnetic radiation from cell phones does have a potential link to cancer. The fact that this radiation is invisible, intangible, and enters and leaves our bodies without our knowledge makes it even more intimidating.

Possible hazards:

* Two minutes of exposure to emissions from mobile phones can disable a safety barrier in blood causing proteins and toxins to leak into the brain, could increase chances of developing Alzheimer's multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's. (Scientists at Sweden's Lund University)
* Scientists say exposure to the phones' low-level radiation causes red blood cells to leak hemoglobin and can lead to heart disease and kidney stones.
* Recent studies suggesting a link between cell-phone use and brain tumors, and the possibility that the microwaves could ignite petroleum fumes at gas stations.
* A cell phone unit, or communications tower, has so many of thee radiation emanating gadgets. This can be a problem for its immediate environment.

SPECIFIC HEALTH CONCERNS

Cancer / Tumors

Studies have been conducted suggesting that rats that have been exposed to microwaves similar to the sort generated by mobile phones but more powerful, showed breaks in their DNA which could indicate an adverse effect. Also, mice exposed to radiation for 18 months developed brain tumors. Though of course, these studies are not concrete proof.

Blood Pressure

It was observed that people using cell phones were prone to high blood pressure. Again, there isn't any concrete evidence of the same.

Pregnancy

A study at the University of Montpellier in France was carried out on 6000 chick embryos and suggested that the heavily exposed chick eggs were five times less likely to survive than the control group. This study raised questions about possible effects on pregnant women but it has not yet appeared in peer-reviewed scientific literature or been reproduced, so its findings are difficult to assess.

Headaches, Heating Effects, Fatigue

A study brought out that longer the people used mobile phones, the more likely they were to report symptoms such as hot ears, burning skin, headaches and fatigue.

The study did not include a control group (that is people who do not use mobile phones, to make a comparison); therefore the symptoms reported could have been caused by any number of other factors in the mobile phones users' environment, such as working with computers, stress, driving or reading.

Memory

There have been various studies into the connection between mobile phones and memory loss. A study looked into the effect of radio frequency (RF) on the section of rats' brains that is linked with the memory. The results showed that RF could modify signals in the cells in a part of the brain that is responsible for learning and short term memory.

Posture (holding phone between raised shoulder and ear)

Some researchers claim that holding a mobile phone between the raised shoulder and the ear could have a damaging effect on muscles, bones, tendons and discs. These problems would apply equally to a cordless phone or a landline phone as to a mobile phone and are the effect of bad posture.

Mobile Phones and Children
Because of their smaller heads, thinner skulls and higher tissue conductivity, children may absorb more energy from a given phone than adults.

PREVENTION TIPS

* Cell phones should be used for emergencies, and not for long conversations.
* A small chip-like cell phone microwave radiation protection device is available, which has the ability to absorb electromagnetic energy waves from your mobile phone. It helps in reducing the potential harmful effects of these emissions to the human body.
* Using a mobile headset is a good idea, you don't have to hold phones next to your ears all the time
* Use a hands free mobile car kit while driving, without taking your hands off the steering wheel

THE WHO (World Health Organization) RULES

* Mobile phone users should limit their exposure to harmful radio frequencies by cutting the length of calls.
* Hands-free devices cut exposure by keeping the instrument away from the head and body.
* Driving cum mobile phone talking should be banned.
* Mobile phones should not be used in Intensive Care Units of hospitals as they can pose a danger to patients by interfering with the working of pacemakers and defibrillators.
* People with hearing aids should not use mobile phones.
* Base stations, which have low powered antennae on their terrace to communicate with cell phones, should not be located near children's schools and playgrounds.

CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING

Studies indicate that a lot of car accidents have happened, while the driver was on the phone. This is because while driving, one obviously needs to concentrate, and talking on a phone doesn't help. Some countries like Portugal have banned the use of cell phones, which may not be very practical, as their main use is to be reachable while you are on the move. Thus, it is important to take certain precautions while driving:

* Position your phone within easy reach so that you don't have to take your eyes off the road.
* Get to know the features of your cell phone - speed dial, redial, voice mail, they can be your lifesaver. But don't dial and drive at the same time. Use a hands free kit.
* Avoid using a phone when road conditions are hazardous or traffic is heavy. You can let your voice mail take messages and then call back later.
* Don't engage in stressful conversations that may distract your attention from the road.
* Don't take notes or look up phone numbers whilst driving, wait till you can pull over.
* User abbreviated speed dialing. In fact, voice activated dialing is even better. It leaves both hands free. Frequently called numbers can be programmed.
* Have an answering machine installed that could take messages until you can return the calls. Let your co-passenger handle the calls if you are not traveling alone.

Playing iPod Too Loud for Prolonged Period of Time Developing Early Hearing Loss - - Warned by Royal National Institute Dor the Deaf NI

Thousands of young people in Northern Ireland risk developing early hearing loss as a result of playing iPods too loud, a leading charity has warned.

The Royal National Institute for the Deaf NI says listening to music on MP3 players at high volumes for prolonged periods of time is equivalent to listening to a power drill at close range.

In a bid to educate young people on the dangers, the charity will visit schools in the region as part of Noise Action Week to test the volume levels pupils set for their personal music players.

Research for the charity has found that 58% of 16 to 30-year-olds were unaware of any risk to their hearing from the devices.

It is estimated that between 124million and 165 million MP3 players have been sold in the EU.

Experts from the EU’s scientific committee have recommended a default maximum volume setting of 85 decibels, although sound levels inside the ear canal can reach around 120 decibels, as small earphones intensify volume.

RDNI research revealed that two-thirds (66%) of people who listen to music on these devices do so at volumes above the recommended 85db.

The World Health Organisation lists exposure to loud noise as the major avoidable cause of permanent hearing loss worldwide.

RNDI NI spokeswoman Claire Lavery said: “Millions plug in and don’t realise the music they love could be harming them. As a rule of thumb, if you can't hear external noises or it’s uncomfortable to listen to, the music is too loud — so turn it down a few notches.”

The warning comes following a call for more surveys to be conducted into the potentially harmful effects of iPods and MP3 players on young people’s hearing.

Noise Action Week runs from April 26-30.