Are you a blogger? Are you on the Internet for a long time every day? Do you know you are at risk for this disease?

Once a friend came to me with this strange problem. Her eyes were always burning.
Nothing seems to help. Now I have written a lot about acid reflux and burning sensation in the throat. But burning eyes? She was upset and close to tears. A talk with her revealed the following. She is a computer engineer. On the way to work from 8 am to 8 .45 am using an Android phone to catch up on Gmail and WhatsApp messages.

At work from 9 am to 7 pm : Using a PC or a laptop.
Returning home from work 7  to 8 pm: Using the android phone to check the Facebook and Instagram feed.
At home from 9 pm till 23.30 pm: watching television.
Bedtime: Checking phone for any important emails, messages,fb messenger.
So from 8 am till 12-midnight digital screen usage of 15 to 16 hours!
 
Shocking, right? At the end of the day your eyes burn, headaches, neck pains. All this seems to get worse every day.
Bloggers and all digital media professionals who are using computers throughout the day face this strange problem. It’s called Computer Vision Syndrome or Computer fatigue syndrome.

 What is Computer fatigue syndrome?

Computer fatigue/vision syndrome is a problem faced by people who are using a digital screen for long hours.I am at risk. You are at risk. Those who use a laptop, computer, smartphone for long hours for study, work or pleasure all are at equal risk. With Online education in 2020 .2021 and now 2022, kids are the new sufferers if screen time is not monitored.

What problems will you have with Computer Vision Syndrome?

• Eyestrain
• Irritation in the eye
• Burning sensation
• Pain in the eye
• Headache
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Generalized irritability

Computer Vision Syndrome:What complaints you may have

Why does this happen?

• Poor lighting
• Poor posture
• Prolonged digital usage
• Glare from the screen

How to avoid it ?

• Rotate your head and neck and shoulders every few minutes.
• Antiglare screens
• Antiglare eye glasses
• Good lighting
• Good seating posture
• Under desk stepper
• Walking and writing on the laptop
• Checklist to have healthy eyes while using digital screens
• Check lighting conditions
• Is your chair comfortable? Does it give good back support?
• DIY your own standing desk with your treadmill to get healthy.
• While typing on your keyboard ,keep the reference at the correct angle to avoid eyestrain.Ideally :It should be placed just above the keyboard and below the monitor.You can hold a document holder beside the monitor.
• To look at the monitor and the screen ,you shouldn’t have to move your head.
• Always check the position of the monitor to avoid muscle strain and eye strain.
• Its more comfortable to look at a computer screen , looking downwards.
• It’s best if the computer screen is at 15 to 20 degrees(5 inches) below your eyes.
• LCD screens are preferred ,than old PC monitors.Avoid glare.Use Anti-glare screen.
• Light from windows and overhead light shouldn’t come from the back.It’s best to use drapes on the windows.Use floor lamps.Low wattage desk lamps .
• It’s better to have windows to your side than in front or behind.
• Blink frequently
• Use preservative free tear solution to prevent dryness.
• Chair should be comfortable. Preferably with hand rest
• Your feet should touch the floor
• Check your computer display setting
• Brightness :same as surrounding.Should be like a light source and not a glare .
• Text size should be around 14
• Black print white background

Exercise you can do:

Take frequent rest breaks.

While sitting, rotate your feet and wrists while reading. Stand up, move about and stretch your arms, legs, back, neck, and shoulders. This will help reduce tension and muscle fatigue.
Try to give your eyes rest for 15 minutes after two hours of computer use. For every 20 minutes of computer work, shift your eyes and look into the distance for 20 seconds. This allows your eye muscles to relax and refocus.
Blinking frequently helps a lot. It decreases your chances of getting dry eyes. Blinking keeps your eye moist and healthy.

For Children with Computer vision syndrome

Reduce screen time except for educational requirements and that too should be age-appropriate.

Take care that the child has nature time and spends time in a green plant-filled environment.

Children should have regular eye checkups by an Ophthalmologist or eye doctor.

Who should take special care?

Children need more care.
If you use contact lenses, you need to be more careful.
Checkups: Eye checkups Once a year at least. Eyeglasses with anti-reflective coating, the blue light filter will help to protect your eyes.

Takeaway

Regular eye examinations and proper viewing habits can help to prevent or reduce the symptoms
associated with Computer Vision Syndrome.

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How is the Health of the Nation: The report is an eye-opener!

 

Mommy hacks are golden nuggets.They are the wisdom distilled over centuries by mothers forever picking up after their children.Women then didn’t have it easy.But they didn’t need to juggle the extra guilt of our generation.

To work away from home or not?Who will take care of my baby?How to cook, clean, work and still have energy left over to play?Are you a teacher?Lawyer ?Doctor?Businesswoman, SAHM,WAHM, going to office mom?Wherever you are, whatever you do, I am sure you are a super busy, multitasking, hardworking creative woman.No less than our ten handed beautiful Goddess Maa Durga!

My daughter had once drawn her version of Maa Durga and put a laptop and stethoscope in two of her hands the 3rd hand holding her little hand and said,

Mumma she is just like you!

Oh, I felt happy that day.But I don’t feel that great when I actually do all this at the same time and feel like the proverbial headless chicken.Women are the epitome of power.Some days you don’t want to be powerful,just want to let things be and someone else take charge.

Thinking you don’t have a creative bone in your body?Well, I can guarantee you are forever finding new ways to stash those building blocks, the never-ending stacks of drawing pages, crayons and what not!

I have simple home rules,hacks to keep my sanity intact.Its hanging by the thread ,but its still there!

Mommy Rules for Sanity

Maximum of 1 board game or two toys out at a time.If you don’t put it away after playing, you don’t get to play with it next time.Your books and toys shouldn’t be standing in the middle of the room, for mommy to fall over.This obstacle race is not fun.

Study time if you are good, mommy will be more likely to be good during playtime.Life is a balance.What you do now will affect your next.Important to explain as early as possible.Otherwise, children end up thinking, crying and telling Daddy, will take care of all the Worlds problem.(I wish this happened the way I want.But it doesn’t always go according to my plan!)

Help mommy shell the peas.She helps with kitchen duty too.That’s stretching it a little.What I mean is she puts her cups and dishes in the proper place and not just anywhere.She is  also learning, that when mommy is cooking, she needs both her eyes and hands on the work at hand.Otherwise, everything can get burnt!So strict rule this one.

Don’t talk when mommy is cooking.She needs to focus!.

Whenever there’s an insurmountable problem, I tell her to pray to God.It helps to make the little one realize there’s a higher power and teaches her patience.After all, prayers are a part of life.I find they work as mindmaps of what we want .My daughter is 5 years now .I manage work and home ,just barely!I manage as long as my hubby is around and all the people who help me are around.That means I pray all the time!

Writing this for #MondayMommyMoments.

 

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My favorite moment on twitter from last week, when Mayuri shared the pic from Mumbai mirror.

 

 

What a surprise to see our Dr Amrita @misra_amrita being featured in @MumbaiMirror today! #Health #specialist pic.twitter.com/OVG2wTxvz0

— Mayuri (@Mayuri6) April 10, 2017

God had a plan when he told me to write A to Z of fruits.Surprise Eggplant is a fruit.Yes really.Iam not making it up.Otherwise, I would have to say egg is the fruit of the chicken tree.AtoZ of fruits is making me discover some interesting facts.

Eggplant is a fruit and is commonly popular as brinjal in India.It is also called the aubergine.Unlike other fruits, it’s not sweet.The raw fruit is actually slightly bitter and hardly ever had as it is.It’s a fruit and called the king of vegetable .It is supposed to be a meat substitute in vegan and vegetarian  dishes, due to the richness of its taste.

My favourite eggplant dish

The beguni made with slightly thick slices of eggplant dipped in a gramme flour batter make monsoon evenings a  pleasure.Have it with a cup of gingery chai or at lunch with khichri.

Nutrition facts:

 Low in fat , protein, dietary fibres and is hardly a micronutrient storehouse.But it tastes delicious fried(begun bhaja ), smoked (begun pora), the north Indian baingan bharta or beguni(made into fritters with gram flour).The main drawback of this is It can soak in massive quantities of oil if not prepped properly before cooking.

Top tip to decrease  eggplant  fry from soaking in excess oil

This is why my air fryer has made frying brinjal less of a calorie horror.I just rub a mixture of salt haldi  , and a pinch of sugar. And keep it for some time then brush oil on either side of the piece of brinjal and air fry

Allergy eggplant and folklore

Allergies to eggplant are common.It’s especially common in those people with a history of atopy.You may have itchy sensation around the mouth and throat.The tongue may feel heavy and swollen.If you have any problem breathing you should visit  ER.

I avoid brinjals with too many seeds.Different parts of eggplant have a different type of allergens(chemicals causing allergies).Mostly localised in the peel/skin.The allergic reaction occurs due to the attraction of the eggplant allergen to IgE.

 

Symptoms include:

Skin rash .angioedema, wheezing, itchiness of lips around the mouth, and inside the oral cavity.Hoarseness of throat.Gastrointestinal discomfort Females may have more of a problem than men.

What to do if you have eggplant allergy?

Avoid having it. Food allergies, unfortunately, have no treatment

The folklore 

It belongs to a species of nightshade plant commonly known to have alkaloids as their constituents.Probably due to allergic reactions, there are folk stories around the eggplant

 13th-century Italian traditional folklore, the eggplant can cause insanity.

 Egypt, insanity was said to be “more common and more violent” when the eggplant is in season in the summer.

Sounds scary right?

But rest easy.No scientific research have linked this delicious side dish to insanity ..

Do you eat eggplant ?Tell me about your favourite eggplant dish in the comments below.

 

 

 

 

Getting up in the morning feeling fresh and energetic is the biggest joy.I remember the time when my daughter was an infant and after an all nighter I could hardly drag myself out of bed.I used to look forward to my afternoon nap sessions with the baby.

So waking up refreshed sits high up there on my list.

5 Things I am thankful for when I wake up in the morning

That first cup of gingery green tea .Oh yes, I love green tea now ,first thing in the morning. It perks me up without any guilt trips. But then I need my cup of coffee made just right at 9 am before I can go to work. I can never choose between two wonderful things.

Read about  my  Affair with Tea

A day of little juggling

I always thought being a multitasker is a super skill. In fact for women, it’s a survival skill.But that’s exactly why women top few lists! Lack of mindfulness can tilt the balance between doing it fabulously and doing it okay.Mindful living and less juggling makes me calm and gets my creative juices flowing.Too much stress can be paralysing

Healthy and happiness

Health is your biggest wealth.True happiness is a balance of emotional wellbeing and physical fitness.When I don’t have any major health worries except the minor irritations, that’s a major boost.Equilibrium and balance are important in life.The cup of energy needs constant refilling.

If you are constantly battling ailments then its difficult to explore your creative potentials.Doctors are often guilty of a sedentary lifestyle, horrible food habits, lack of sleep and stress about patients.Take that, together with the physical risk of bodily harm by relatives/goons!That’s a perfect formula for early onset of Syndrome X and obesity

I will read and learn , write and share

God created man.Man wanted to share his thoughts, feelings far and wide.Enter the use of words.Words are a blessing.What can I say?I love reading.Its like breathing for me.I can’t survive without something to read at all times.

Reading is exploring new worlds. Reading is learning new thing.Reading is an opportunity to cut short your struggles, by learning from those who are ahead in the game.That’s why my Genius Bloggers toolkit has been amazing.It has helped me avoid years of mistakes.

That’s why you need to read.If you read the masters, you learn.When you read books which are not that good, even then you learn.

Books are the best teachers.
As The King puts it  aptly,
“If you don’t read other people’s work,don’t expect them to read yours.”

Stephen King in “On writing “

Writing this for #ThankfulThursdays