Technology and Disease

Technology has been associated with a number of diseases by researchers around the globe, rare, chronic and obsessive, instilling a sense of fear in most people. These are seen as chronic and rare afflictions traced to tech-addictive behaviour. Some are preventable, curable or incurable, examples of which are presented.

Dermorexia - The pursuit of flawless, youthful skin is not a health goal but an obsession with skincare, involving use of multiple products and unending routines, to achieve a perfect skin as seen on stage with actors and models.

Overusing skincare products for what was once a minimalist routine, may actually harm young vulnerable skin in this age of child artists, exposed to the stage and promoted by advertisers and influencers. According to researcher Jessica DeFino, these can have serious consequences for both body and brain.

Content creators promote products through impacting audiences who then choose to follow mindful voices and authentic brands.

Why the obsession? – When people see their favourite influencers, like Amitabh Bachchan or Priyanka Chopra, looking flawless promoting products, they crave to look like them and take to the brands, unaware of the heavy editing, AI filters, makeup, and lighting behind their looks. In addition, there are countless videos on skincare routines on social media that persuade their use. Cosmotologists emphasise that whether one follows the “less is more approach” results show only with time. It is important to be aware that dermorexia is not a clinically recognised condition.

Skincare obsession can cause stress and anxiety, since chasing unrealistic beauty standards can lead to feelings of inadequacy, making minor manifestations appear larger. According to counselling psychologists, people get so used to their filtered image that their real reflection can trigger anxiety and depression, further harming their mental health.

Teens and tweens are the most vulnerable to social media trends and tend to get pushed into adult skincare routines, at an age when their identity is still developing. The resulting pressure can cause anxiety, low self-esteem and body image issues. According to Dr Noopur Jain, dermatologist, a 15 year old became desperate for laser treatment over a small acne spot she scratched that left a scar, for which she had to be referred to a psychologist.

Signs of dermorexia

• Constantly examining the skin.

• Following every skin care trend.

• Frequently changing products and routines.

• Avoiding social contact on account of skin concerns.

• Obsessing over minor blemishes.

• Skin picking. Hoarding skincare products. Buying new ones before finishing old ones.

The latest trend towards looking more natural and accepting changes corresponding with a less materialistic life is encouraging, hoping it can be sustained without the use of nature-identical chemicals and other additives.

Myopia - This is a multifactorial condition commonly known as short or near-sightedness, in which eyesight is affected, although genetics and lifestyles too, play an important role.

Genetics - Research has shown that children of myopic parents have a 40-50% greater risk of myopia than those of non-myopic parents. Lifestyle - Recent surge in prevalence of myopia has been attributed to lifestyle and changes in environment especially post Covid 19 epidemic, leading to the indoor-centric lifestyle as well as ‘work-from-home’ policies. These involved excessive use of technology and screen viewing whether working or at leisure, leading to prolonged periods of near-vision work and less outdoor time involving sunlight exposure, fresh air and social contact. Light levels outdoors are at least 8-10 times brighter than indoors, playing an important role in regulating eye growth and development. It is also relaxing since bright light triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the retina that is protective against myopia. The LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, reported that 30% children and teenagers globally were near-sighted in 2023.

The National average of myopics is stated as 15-20%, with cities at 20-30% and rural areas 4-8% incidence. Researchers predict alarming levels by 2050 with one-in-two children being myopic. If untreated it leads to damage of the retina, vision problems and other complications.

According to Dr. Pavan Verkicharla, scientist and consultant optometrist, spending more time outdoors could help prevent myopia in kids, as it provides a breather from screen time and reading for which proper arm’s length distance is ideal.

Money Dysmorphia – This is a feeling of being broke despite being financially stable. It leaves one with a feeling of guilt after impulse buying, others feel inadequate for not matching online extravagance. As influencer cultures blur financial realities, even the middle class begins to question its standing, creating anxiety and spending habits that don’t reflect real financial wellbeing. The Qualtrics study reported that 1/3rd of Americans reported feeling money dysmorphia, including 43% of Gen Z and 41% millenials.

Money dysmorphia happens when one pushes to change habits and ideals to match those seen on social media, such as wearing luxury watches, going on vacations or tours, following fashion or even food trends. These might appear to result in anxiety induced by media, but is in fact a real problem causing ill-informed, poor monetary decisions leading to compulsive buying.

One sees a social media post and feels “Maybe I’m doing something wrong. I must be doing something irresponsible if I’m not able to spend like this.” Such perceptions unhinged to reality, lead some people to hold back on spending unnecessarily, and others to overspend. Ads enabled by ‘buy now pay later’ schemes make people go into debt when they cannot pay in time, take loans on high interest rates.

Comparisons with the models or billionaires brings dysmorphia. Always count your blessings and if you have to compare, do so with those ‘less better off’ than you and not with those who have ‘enough to burn but none to give’. Gratitude helps to give and a giver gets manifold. This has not only been quoted time and again in holy texts but experienced by many.

Noise - We are constantly living in an age of noise pollution with listening and silence increasingly becoming forgotten virtues. Across cultures and faiths silence has always been viewed as the ‘human reflection’ of wisdom and progress, and not ‘emptiness’ as often perceived.

Ernest Psichari a French writer, has described silence as ‘a bit of heaven’ on earth. Sages, poets and philosophers have experientially discovered that silence is not meaningless but a path to progressing on life’s journey. Newton’s silence was the soil in which revolutionary ideas took root, his habit of reflection made him see what others did not. According to psychologists, silence reduces stress, improves memory and focus, helping to think clearly whether for decision making, enhancing creativity or social relationships. Quoting Fareeda Khanum, chairperson, Centre for Peace and Spirituality International :

Silence is a powerful tool for conflict resolution, since it is reactive speech that can hurt both the speaker and the listener. Choosing not to speak in anger is not passivity, but shows emotional strength enabling one to rise above provocations and aggression in any form. Real listening requires silence of both mouth and mind. The power of silence lies in its ability to restore our inner balance.While speech can inform, listening carefully in silence and then responding can help to transform.

Today, we live in a world of constant expression reacting, commenting, sharing and speaking almost nonstop, losing the habit of reflection.

Advantages of Technology

While focus on yoga and breathing techniques combined with aerobic training play a crucial role in enhancing lung function in asthma patients, technology is a useful tool for early detection of chronic noncommunicable diseases important for early medical intervention and cure. Some diseases successfully prevented from spreading are cancer, heart ailments, stones, neurological and skeletal conditions etc., ensuring that other organs and processes are maintained in health.

Today, advanced technologies are used to identify health of the entire body and its systems and periodic checks can ensure proper maintenance and treatment as required. The greatest advance is in the field of robotic and laser surgeries that have reduced recovery time, hospital stay and costs.

Even video games have become popular not only because of coding, but their narratives, character and moral elements rooted in the humanities. Expressions like prompt engineering used in AI is the art of crafting pertinent questions, the skill that leads to mastery of languages, logic, awareness and other human traits. Hence a plethora of knowledge presents itself in an integrated manner in quick time, that can form the basis of decision making and management in any field of operation.

The Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) has recently inaugurated an E-research library with various software to assist lawyers in legal work. They are also planning its expansion so it can be accessed from anywhere.

Human skills therefore are required to be all encompassing and not only basic or repetitive as before, engineers, doctors, lawyers and other professionals all need to qualify in soft skills too, as team work is required for success in any field. The ability of the brain to focus for an extended period is becoming shorter today, given the overload of information from digital apps and social media. The mind rapidly shifts from one thing to another often termed as the popcorn mind, which women can navigate more easily as they possess the natural trait of multi-skilling than men, for whom mental problems arise.

Present day scenarios of aggressive behaviours and the need for counselling in schools is an effort to calming and reassuring things remain in control. The Talk it Out initiative of the Times of India is an effort to answer mental health issues for all ages, which they can discuss in confidence with professionals, but avoid with parents or even friends.

Hence the need to slow down the pace for any kind of normalcy in life, today plagued with noncommunicable and rare untreatable neurological and other diseases.