Good to Know

Hello, Friends!

We are moving into the weeks before school starts, and that means practices for sports are getting scheduled by coaches, and guidelines need to be in place and clear with regard to how to follow up on injuries. A topic which is always of interest to us is the impact of screen time on our lives. The latest study is focused on recovery from concussion. We have known the importance of allowing our bodies to rest after concussion, to avoid any further injuries related to the concussion. But in the 48 hours following concussion, we are now to limit screen time to all but the briefest moments, a few times a day. In a new randomized trial of 125 adolescents and young adults with acute head trauma who were diagnosed with a concussion during an emergency department evaluation, individuals permitted to have screen time as tolerated had a longer time to recovery, compared with those assigned to abstain from screen time for 48 hours after injury. The unrestricted screen time patients had a mean usage of 10.2 hours in two days following injury, and the people who were restricted had a mean usage of two hours in the same two days. Cognitive function bounced back much faster in those who were in the "low screen usage" group, versus the unlimited screen users. There were also more persistent symptoms for those who were unrestricted in their screen usage.These findings support medical suggestions for reasonable cognitive rest with avoidance of mental activities that worsen symptoms after a concussion. We can’t fully rest our brains unless we unplug from our screens. And doing so will have a benefit in the long run. Headache, nausea, sleep disturbances and dizziness can persist for up to a couple of months following concussion, so treating concussions with the appropriate period of rest may be the most important thing we can do to help people recover fully.

Speaking of screen time, did you know that none of us are supposed to have access to our computer, TV or tablet screens for more than 2 hours on any day, outside of work or school? Two hours is supposed to be our maximum! Does reading that number “2” make your palms sweat, your heart beat hard and your anxiety level go up? That would be because we are addicted to our own devices! The psychologists behind the internet are paid well to be sure we are completely addicted, as they teach the people creating commercials how to trigger the release of endorphins for those who watch advertisements. The use of subliminal advertising has been ongoing since early days at movie theaters, where they would flash photos of popcorn, sodas and candy in order to get moviegoers to buy their junkfood. And we have never had more exposure to subliminal messages than we do now, which is compounded by the crazy number of hours we devote to the internet and social media. So if your mother told you that “moderation” is the best way to stay healthy and well adjusted, she continues to be correct! And finding moderation when it comes to screen time will take at least a month to adjust, as all new habits take about 20 or 30 days to become established. So start by backing yourself off screen time slowly over the coming days, with a goal of screen time at 2 hours total and outdoor play time for all kids at least for an hour a day. Keeping your body healthy starts with your brain. Open a book, open your mind and close your phone/tablet whenever possible. This will go far toward keeping your body and mind at optimal health! Gearing up for less screen time going into the school year will help you establish good habits for the year that will enhance their learning and keep them in tip top mental shape!