Everything excess in life is a poison
Have you ever heard and analyzed the practicality of the saying that everything in excess is a poison.
It is said that in order to achieve excellence during any competition or any exam a person needs to study hard. But it is also true that “All work no play makes Jack a dull boy”. Studying for long hours consistently could lead to many health-related issues among students. These problems vary from lack of motivation to many serious health ailments like trauma, hypertension, and many more.
So let us elaborate more about the side-effects of sitting for long hours for studying.
1. Stress and Hypertension
In earlier days, stress was just limited to the elder people. But nowadays, it has not left any stone unturned. Now young students have also come under the umbrella of stress.
Clearing any competitive exam and getting a meritorious ranking has become a matter of self-esteem and peer-pressure for students, and sometimes for families. With this peer-pressure and self-esteem comes stress, trauma, and hypertension.
Students are so used to studying round-the-clock to succeed in their mission that they give up most physical activity. Due to this, they become more lethargic and that is the reason that their mental abilities and neurological growth get affected. Some even report hormonal imbalances.
Symptoms of stress
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Stomach problems
- Anxiety
- Lack of motivation
- Sadness or depression
- Social withdrawal
How to cut down on stress
- Include regular exercises or yoga in your lifestyle
- Eat green leafy vegetables and avoid junk
- Spend quality time with family and friends
- Avoid overthinking
- Cultivating spirituality can help you eliminate stress to a greater extent
2. Eyesight issues
Technology has proven to be a boon in every field. Now the source of learning is not limited to books made out of papers. Technology has deployed the books on to digital screens. Now students are getting their study materials online and they are using electronic media like smartphones, laptops, desktops, etc. It is also proven that watching the screen of smartphones and computers for longer duration leads to the weakening of the eye lens. The blue light emitted by these screens is harmful and disrupts the sleep cycle, inducing insomniac tendencies. Hence, we should be very careful while using digital means of study materials. Do not ignore the symptoms of eyesight weakness and take precautions at the right time.
Symptoms of eye problems
- Itching eyes
- Watery or dry eyes
- Headache
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Lack of concentration
Precautions
- Wear glasses that filter UV and blue light
- Do not read mobile devices in the dark that will cause additional strain on your eyes
- Sit in a brightly lit room
- Six hours of sleep is a must
- The brightness of the computer screen should match the intensity of brightness in the room
3. Obesity
Studying for long hours is the prime suspect behind the increase in the trend of obesity in youth. This promotes a sedentary lifestyle among youngsters. Also, the students who study late at night tend to crave food and thus keep on eating frequently, which results in putting on more weight. Below is an article excerpt from The Hindu about a survey done by the Ministry of Health:
‘The findings of the Health Ministry’s recently released Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) 2016-18 show. The survey noted that overall 8% of children aged 5-9 years and 6% of adolescents aged 10-19 years had a high subscapular skinfold thickness — an anthropometric measurement used to evaluate nutritional status by estimating the amount of subcutaneous fat — for their age.’
The above excerpt indicates that obesity has captured the future of our country. Obesity also causes other diseases such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, early heart diseases, etc.
Obesity occurs when a person’s body mass index is 25 or greater, so this can be self-diagnosable. Apart from BMI (Body mass index), there are some symptoms that can help diagnose obesity.
Symptoms of Obesity
- breathlessness
- increased sweating
- snoring
- inability to cope with sudden physical activity
- feeling tired every day
- Joints and muscular pains
Precautions can be taken to nullify the effect of obesity, as this could be very serious and dangerous for a student if left untreated.
Precautions/ Tips to control obesity
- Follow a healthy diet plan
- Keep watching your weight
- Include green leafy vegetables in your diet
- Increase the water intake (replace cold water with lukewarm water)
- Exercise daily
With following simple steps and a positive attitude one can easily cure obesity especially students.
4. Spinal Problems
Sitting continuously for a longer duration of time can also lead to severe back problems. When we study for longer hours it tends to create a lot of stress on the spinal cord which results in severe backaches. These problems in students should not be taken lightly and should be diagnosed at an early stage.
Symptoms of spinal problems
- Pain, pressure, and stiffness in the back or neck area
- Headache
- Problems in walking
Remedies and Precautions
- Avoid prolonged sitting
- Check your posture while sitting, incorrect postures result in an increase in pain
- Stretching could work a lot, try to learn some sitting exercises
5. Reduced Attention Span
Sometimes if you study for a longer duration of time your mind can get distracted. The average attention span of a person is about 15 min after that the person starts to lose their interest. Studies show that by taking breaks while studying, one can increase their attention as well as their retention span. Also by doing this, the person does not lose their interest and instead of becoming monotonous, studying becomes a fun-filled activity.
Conclusion
So these are the problems which can occur due to studying for a longer duration of time. Studying is important but it is equally important that you should take breaks and indulge in some physical activity also. A sound body is a temple of a sound mind, so you should keep a harmonious balance between your mental as well as physical health and studies.
