Hoa Binh General Hospital has just treated a 15-year-old patient who was admitted with symptoms of severe pain in the cervical spine and quadriplegia, paralysis on the right side while playing on the phone for many hours at night.
The patient was diagnosed with primary cervical epidural hematoma and was scheduled for emergency surgery.
Dr. Truong Nhu Hien, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery - Hoa Binh General Hospital, said that after examining the patient, it was found that before the disease broke out, the patient played games on his phone continuously for a long time. During that time, the patient had many strong movements such as shaking and jerking his neck, which according to the patient, were done to relieve fatigue. This was also determined by doctors to be the main cause of the cervical spine being suddenly impacted with strong force, causing damage to the blood vessels, compressing the cervical spinal cord. On the other hand, for people who have the habit of looking down at their phones and tablets for a long time to read messages or play games, causing the head to be pushed forward and increasing pressure on the spine, the blood vessels are stagnant and vulnerable.
In fact, many parents often have the habit of "throwing" smartphones to their children so they can work hands-free, but the health consequences are unpredictable.
The habit of using smartphones from adults to children is no longer strange in modern society. In fact, smartphones are causing terrible negative effects on children and adults every day.
Dr. Truong Nhu Hien added that there have been a number of studies on using the phone for too long leading to various consequences such as permanent damage or difficulty in treating eye-related diseases; increased risk of venous insufficiency, atherosclerosis, thrombosis; obesity; Neck problems: Neck pain, cervical spondylosis, cervical spine muscle stiffness syndrome due to looking down at mobile phones or tablets continuously and for a long time. In children, when children sit in one position for too long, it contributes to an increase in the rate of hunchback, scoliosis in school... or traffic accidents; Sleep disorders, prolonged headaches and even depression.
Not to mention, doctors also pointed out new "diseases" in the 4.0 era such as Nomophobia Syndrome - the fear of being without a smartphone; Text neck Syndrome - Texting neck syndrome; Texting Thumb Syndrome - Quervain's syndrome: Refers to the condition of damage to the thumb tendons due to using them to text, type on the computer or play games too much.
As for young children, especially children with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, there are many causes that cause children to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and language difficulties. One of the high risk factors is the use of electronic devices by children under 3 years old.
Parents also need to know that viewing electronic devices as one-way communication makes it difficult for children to develop language, because children only listen and do not respond. For children under 3 years old, it is best not to let them use electronic devices such as phones, iPads, TVs, computers, etc. Young children's use of electronic devices is one of the risk factors that cause difficulties for children in language development, learning, and social relationships.
