For those who have grown up in the digital revolution of the past two decades, the increasing role of technology in our lives has begun to display very real side effects on the bodies of its more avid users. Ironically, while these advancements grow more and more intent on aiding us, the swell in our dependence on technology has begun showing signs of its disservice to our physical well-being. Americans, specifically young ones, are spending more and more time wired into devices like computers and video game consoles, and it’s changing the way their bodies develop.

The realization that America’s increasingly sedentary lifestyle is generating massive health problems for its citizens is nothing new. It is suggested that the commercial availability of the automobile and the television midway through the 20th century have led to an American way of life that enables people to be more content with moving less. Americans are now watching more TV and spending more time online than ever.

According to the Nielsen Company, 99 percent of American households own at least one television and watch TV around seven hours a day. Americans also lead the world in the amount of time spent online, coming in at over 27 hours a month. Additionally, at any given moment of any day, at least 1.6 million people in the U.S. are playing video games.

With all this time spent being stimulated by television, computer screens, video games and other entertainment means, the healthy balance of physical exercise becomes more and more lopsided. The way our bodies adapt to these changes can result in a serious physical toll. Here’s a look at some of the more prominent issues and what you can do to fix them.

Robert Bredvad

Obesity

Obesity is defined as having excess fat deposits to the extent that it might have an adverse effect on health. The basic cause of obesity is simply a numbers game. If the body continually takes in more calories than it burns on a daily basis, over an extended period of time, it will gain weight and continue to gain weight. Poor dietary habits and a lack of exercise can result in this but, on occasion, genetics can be to blame.

The Center for Disease Control claims that obesity is the cause of many fatal health problems and is quickly catching up to smoking as the leading avoidable cause of death in the U.S. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans die due to causes stemming from poor diet and lack of exercise. Obesity can lead to a number of serious life-threatening health conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, plus an increased risk of cancer. It also has a hefty financial cost. According to Reuters, “On average, persons who are obese have medical costs that are $1,429 more than persons of normal weight.”

The best way to prevent or combat obesity is to reverse the behavior that causes it. A healthy diet and regular exercise can go a long way. The goal is to reverse the ratio of calorie intake to calories burned. Many people will attest that weight loss can be very difficult and that the lifestyle change requires a great deal of commitment. However, this is the best way to tackle the problem. Consulting a physician or a personal dietician are the first great steps to serious change.

Robert Bredvad

Eyesight

Gazing at a computer screen or television monitor for extended periods of time has been linked to a condition known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Staring at a monitor all day requires a great deal of focusing and eye movement, which can tire out the muscles in the eye. Pre-existing eye problems, such as astigmatism and farsightedness, can compound the issues. The symptoms include dry eye, eyestrain, light sensitivity, fatigue and headaches.

CVS symptoms can be divided into three categories: eye-related symptoms (such as dry eyes and burning eyes), vision-related symptoms (such as blurred vision and double vision), and posture-related symptoms (such as neck strain and sore backs). Thankfully, the effects of CVS aren’t permanent, yet they can decrease productivity and plague the user for the remainder of the day. If the behavior continues without being checked, the symptoms will grow more intense over time.

About 47 million Americans reported symptoms of CVS in 2007, and a great deal of those cases can be corrected by using a number of techniques to rest and relax the eye muscles. Adjust the lighting in the room so as to reduce glare on the screen. Change the distance from the screen you’re working at frequently, making sure not to get closer to what you’re looking at. Every half hour, close your eyes for 20 seconds. Also, remember to blink. As simple as that sounds, many computer users forget to blink, resulting in irritating, dry eyes. Keep these things in mind and you can spare yourself a headache or two.

Robert Bredvad

Hearing Loss

These days, the ears of American youths are exposed to more stimulation than ever. But it’s not just that they’re listening to more, it’s the way that they’re listening. The extended amount of time we spend listening to loud music and the prevalence of extended headphone use is leading to hearing loss in younger and younger individuals.

A study by the American Medical Association shows that 6.5 million teenagers are suffering from some form of hearing loss. In extreme cases, prolonged exposure to loud music has led to permanent, irreversible hearing loss. Since many people listen to music through headphones everyday at unsafe levels, temporary and permanent hearing loss are very real consequences.

The most serious problem with hearing loss as a result of overexposure to loud noise is that it’s irreversible. Once certain frequencies heard by your ears are lost, they are gone forever. The best way to avoid this is to practice listening at a safe volume — 60 percent of your player’s full volume — and limit the amount of time spent pumping sound directly into your ears.

Robert Bredvad

Writer’s Cramp

Not to be confused with carpal tunnel syndrome, writer’s cramp is a condition stemming from repetitive hand motion such as typing. It results in mild to severe pain in the wrist or fingers and, in some cases, a persistent tremor in the affected hand while performing the triggering task.

Writer’s cramp generally occurs later in life, in 30-to-50-year-olds, but a study done by Dr. Yusuf Yazici, a researcher at the New York University School of Medicine, has shown similar symptoms in people who play video games for extended periods of time. These cases may not be a direct result of writer’s cramp, but the circumstances surrounding them are the same. The condition can persist for years and treatment is often complicated and difficult.

To prevent writer’s cramp and similar discomfort disorders, make sure to take breaks from typing or playing video games when soreness becomes noticeable. Be sure to stretch and massage your wrist after extended periods of use. If the condition becomes severe, treatment often involves extensive physical therapy or chemical treatment. The best way to avoid these issues is to keep them from developing in the first place.