Technology – A Blessing Or A Curse for Our Health

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Today’s world has transformed into a global village. Technology has developed, evolved, and improved to its pinnacle in the last century. We can notice the impacts technology has carved on people’s individual and collective lives and transformed how people communicate, eat, sleep, work, and enjoy.

Technology in the field of Medical Science

Technology, in the context of the definition, is harmless. Rapid innovation, research, and developments are highly beneficial to humanity. For instance, the health sector has experienced a strong impact of technology. We have found the cure for many diseases. In ancient times, people used to die of infections like influenza and malaria. Thanks to medical science advancements, we can now survive cancers, diabetes, and fatal injuries.

But where did it all come from? To some extent, technology itself is the culprit. Our lifestyle has changed. We are glued to the screens. We live a sedentary life, which is one of the many reasons for developing such diseases. For example, extended screen times are a cause of many eye diseases. Where again technology comes to help with UV coating glasses or blue light glasses. You can find on the internet how to get new lenses for old frames, to change your regular glass lens with UV coated lenses. Many big names like EyeBuyDeirect, Overnight Glasses, and Eyeglass World provide such services.

Technological Involvement in Food Department

Similarly, the food and science industry and organic and packaged food products sector have undergone massive growth. It is essential to assess, analyze, and reduce the side effects on people’s health due to such escalated food products’ consumption levels.  Even though several food regulatory authorities are doing a remarkable job ensuring food quality standards. Yet, the big companies find loopholes and sell substandard products that are harmful to people’s health.

Technological benefits for Health:

As mentioned earlier, advancements in technology have reshaped our life for the better. We can see a surge in the average life expectancy due to improvements in medicine and healthcare systems. Medical science has evolved to such an extent that we have cured almost every known disease. Whether it be eyesight restoration, amputation of limbs, pacemaker installation, angiography, a heart transplant, or infertility treatment, doctors have solutions to all the human genesis. 

According to a well-known saying, “prevention is better than cure.” However, there is no denying the services medical science offers, yet maintaining a healthy lifestyle is still the best policy. For instance, daily workout routine, taking good care of your body, eyesight, taking healthy meals, etc. Scientists reveal that due to increased screen time exposure, children are developing eye-related ailments rapidly. Eyewear has become a common sight in the modern world. In addition to that, lack of physical activity, a significant symptom in preteens and teenagers, causes them to develop obesity. There is an alarming level of obesity-related problems occurring in children these days.

Junk food:

Technology has not just affected our activities; it has also left its mark on our cuisines. As people’s lives are busier, the local food chains, restaurants, Uber Eats, and others have stepped in to take care of our hunger games by providing substandard meals at a subsidized cost. All such burgers, fries, pizza, sandwiches are available at your doorsteps within minutes, yet such foods incur profound health implications. 

On the other hand, the food science industry has also contributed a lot to humankind. Today’s organic food options are a blessing, and all the credit goes to the food industry for such achievements and creations.

Dark Side of Technology:

Technology has undoubtedly reached its prime in the present era, but we cannot neglect its effects upon our health. We are facing a severe dilemma of internet addiction. We rely too much on the information and reviews that we find online instead of using our instinct or common sense before purchasing a product. Marketing and advertising companies pay people to write up fake reviews for their products, and online scamming is on a hike. 

The constant use of smartphones, tablets, laptops for work or pleasure seriously damages our health.  People suffer from eyesight weakening, depression, anxiety, and other health disorders due to constant radiation exposure from the devices, as mentioned earlier.

Global warming is another severe threat that owes its existence to technology. Our environment has worsened over the last few decades. Industrial wastewater is contaminating our groundwater resources, and harmful gasses are polluting air quality.

Due to such increased levels of toxic gases present in our environment, breath-related problems are increasing. Asthma, shortening of breath, lung cancer, influenza and pneumonia, and tuberculosis have increased more than 20% in the last century. Similarly, diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes are also prevalent. People’s health is affecting immensely.

On another note, the urban sprawl has also contributed to this surge in health-related issues. Today more people are migrating than ever. Everyone is chasing the luxuries and amenities. Humanity needs to understand that conservation of natural resources is imperative for its survival.

Conclusion:

This evolution in science and technology has equipped man with his destruction tools, including nuclear bombs, weapons of mass destruction, biogenetically modified food products, cosmetics, and unnecessary cosmetic surgeries like liposuction or certain implants. Hence, we can say that technology is a blessing but still a curse. The abuse of technology in any way harmful to physical, mental, or psychological health makes it a curse. We can safely infer from the discussion and arguments above that technology is neither a blessing nor a curse. It is just a tool enabling people to succeed. How we use technology is our prerogative. Likewise, the health implications associated with the use of technology are also discretionary.