OUR HEALTH & THE HAZARDS OF TECHNOLOGY...

By Dr Orly Zuker, Chiropractor 
(B.Appl Sci; Comp Med, Clin Chiro; Masters, B.Nursing, Webster Certif)

Over the past 250 years there have been  so many changes and development to all aspects of life. There have been multiple breakthroughs in technology, transport, construction, communications, science and health care. The world has come a long way and now we may enjoy greater standards of health and sanitation and items such as telephones, televisions, refrigerators, cars, aeroplanes, the list goes on. Creations and discoveries in these areas are nothing other than incredible and thanks to the genius of people such as Thomas Edison, we have the light globe (invented in 1879), inventors such as the Wright brothers who created the first powered aeroplane (in 1903), founders such as D.D Palmer who introduced health care modalities such as chiropractic (in 1895), engineers such as Karl Benz, who designed and built the world's first ‘practical’ automobile (in 1885) and Henry Ford, who improved and perfected the automobile engine and invented car transmission (in the 1920s).

Today, we are well advanced in the field of technology, with machines and robots replacing man power in many industries. Technology is nothing other than impressive; saving us time, effort and physical exertion, however on the other hand has lead to a reduction in job opportunities, has affected social interaction and has lead to a more sedentary lifestyle. With computer and desk bound work many people are now experiencing ergonomic related injuries such as repetitive strain injury (RSI) of the forearms and wrists, vision problems, musculoskeletal issues, tension headaches, lower back pain, fatigue and altered mood, all occurring due to a lack of movement. “Movement is life” and although the world wide web and specific computer programs are useful, spending hours on end at a computer may have negative health implications such as cardiovascular disease and obesity. In addition, wireless broadband and mobile phone technology has certainly made our busy lives easier and less demanding, allowing us to access emails, check weather forecasts and confirm train timetables on our mobile ‘smartphones’, however this technology also comes with concern.

The Mobile Phone
 

Over the past 20 years there has been growing concern in the natural health field with the safety of mobile phones as they emit electromagnetic radiation (EMFR) and heat. Everyday we are being inundated with and saturated by EMFR from; wireless and mobile communication devices, mp3 players, portable video games and the array of game consoles to choose from, as well as domestic appliances such as televisions, DVD players, electric blankets, microwaves, laptops and so on.

This is a concern to many people leading them to question whether the potential risk of prolonged mobile phone and appliance use is worth the convenience. The answer is not simple and the research has certainly not been solidified, however most tumours and cancers manifest over years, taking decades for symptoms to develop, hence why it is so important that we are mindful of our habits and lifestyle, making every effort to take care of ourselves before problems arise.

The heat that a mobile phone generates may pose a problem to our health as the neurons in the brain become damaged when they are exposed to high temperatures, explaining why prolonged fever during illness may be dangerous to a person. Physiologically, the brain of a teenager or child is immature and more susceptible to trauma, insult and brain tumours, so people under the age of 18 should really only ever use a mobile phone to call in the event of an emergency and by no means should they be spending hours a night speaking on these devices. Unfortunately we are seeing young toddlers and children handling and using mobiles and ipads everyday, and so many adults are known for having their phone ‘glued to their ear’.  Nonetheless, avoiding prolonged exposure and doing your best to keep mobile phone use to an absolute minimum may be important for health.

Some studies indicate that mobile and cordless phone use may lead to the development of acoustic neuroma tumours (benign) of the ear canal and glioma (malignant) tumours of the brain. Other studies conducted over the years have found that mobile phone use may be related to headaches, sleep disturbance, generalised tension or nervousness, fatigue and dizziness. Understandably, further study is warranted in this area so that we may have a more conclusive understanding of the safety of such technology.  A shift in public awareness or perhaps a governmental educational campaign may also be necessary.

The Microwave Oven

The microwave oven, introduced in the 1960s is another appliance that emits a significant amount of EMFR into the environment. For various reasons the are many people who are adverse to the use of microwaves, suggesting that food cooked or heated in a microwave is ‘radiated’, ‘nuked’ or ‘killed’. Literally speaking, food does not actually become radioactive, however a microwave oven cooks at high frequencies, destroying enzyme structure, reducing mineral and vitamin content and denaturing the proteins found in food. In addition when microwavable plastics are heated, petroleum by-products may degrade and leach chemicals into your foods.

Today we are often time poor and a microwave is certainly a convenient appliance, although despite public perception does not have to be a household necessity. At home, try to be patient and use the stove top or oven to reheat food or cook meals and be prepared the night before when defrosting meat or other frozen goods. If you stop and think about your experience with microwave ovens, you will realise for instance that reheating such things as a chocolate self saucing pudding (yum) will actually dry out the cake part and soak up the sauce, whereas a conventional kitchen oven will of course do its job to re-sauce the pudding for you to enjoy. In addition, heating expressed breast milk above 37 degrees has been found to break down the antibodies and enzymes. In addition, the milk is heated unevenly and can cause oesophageal burns. Rather heat refrigerated or frozen expressed breast milk in a glass of warm water instead.
Finally, consider only using a microwave oven for warming a wheat bag for your aches and pains.

Helpful tips for reducing EMF in your home

In an attempt to protect yourself from the potentially hazardous EMF, here are a few simple and easy tips that you may like to implement in your home and office:

Indoor Plants:

Firstly go out and buy your home some indoor plants as plants and trees renew stagnant air with oxygen. Indoor plants are helpful as they act to purify the air by absorbing radiation, toxins and pollutants. Look for plants from the Spathiphyllum, Philodendron, Dieffenbachia and Aglaonema, Gerbera Daisies and Chrysanthemum families as these plants are effective in filtering air, are readily available and are aesthetically pleasing with lush green foliage. Remember to regularly wipe any dust off the leaves as dust will inhibit their ability to filter successfully.

Himalayan Salt lamps: Himalayan Salt lamps are another useful air purifying tool for your home or office. A Himalayan salt lamp works by emitting negative ions into the atmosphere which absorb environmental pathogens (foreign particles) and toxins.

Himalayan Salt Lamps are useful in bedrooms where people have asthma or allergies, in rooms where air quality needs to be improved, in offices or shops that have photocopiers, computers and other appliances, at work or on study desks, in treatments rooms or offices and of course in a child’s bedroom for the night. Regardless of where you place them, these lamps create a warm and cosy feeling to any room.

For extra protection and to assist in saving electricity, turn off all non essential electrical appliances (at the power point) at night and in general make sure that bedrooms have few electrical appliances in use at all times, placing computer and televisions in the study or living room.

Radiation Protectors: Directly for your mobile phone, there are various radiation protectors available on the market, with Australia’s leading product being the ‘Nanotech Radiation Shield’, a lightweight and flat adhesive shield which has been found to be “effective in neutralizing and transforming up to 83% of the harmful radiation”. These shields are a small investment in our health, retailing at only $29.95. Alternatively, there are other products such as the Q-Link from America, which are more expensive option, yet highly effective. Be aware that these products do not guarantee 100% protection, so be mindful to minimise talk time, use the loudspeaker or a hands-free device and perhaps use SMS messaging instead of voice calls. In addition avoid long conversations in confined spaces such as in a car.

In taking care of ourselves, there are always choices and ways in which we can change our lifestyle to preserve or protect our heath and well being. The journey of health prevention is often misleading, confusing and overwhelming, yet is certainly worth it. Always do your own research and question mass media-based information and when it comes to technology adopt a conservative and minimalistic approach. Good luck on your journey of health.

References:

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7. 
   
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