Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology How We Have Changed! Discussing some medical cases with my friends- doctors, we all agree that, regardless of a reason and diagnosis of a visit, half of our patients list anxiety as one of their medical issues. This is not how it used to be years ago. Granted, you may say that often before anxiety was simply not properly diagnosed. There is some truth to that as well. But it seems like we have a massive epidemic of people of all ages who suffer from anxiety these days. I am not a psychiatrist or a psychologist, so I do not attempt to address it with my patients; rather I tend to suggest that they may benefit from seeing a specialist who can offer some remedy in various options. Anxiety is not uncommon in patients with chronic illnesses. Dealing with constant pain or itching, missing sleep, avoiding social contacts are not positive experiences in anyone's life and, after months or years, they contribute to our mental status. But there are many external factors that can contribute to our mental and even physical health as well. As much as we love our devices and new cell phones, they often disturb what is a human natural state of mind. Technology has simply altered our physiology. It makes us think differently, feel differently, even dream differently. It affects our memory, attention spans and sleep cycles. This is attributed to a scientific phenomenon known as neuroplasticity, or the brain's ability to alter its behavior based on new experiences. We experience novelties in technology every month now. Not a single month flies by without an update run on our phones. Have you tried reading the news on the Internet? What you find are fragmented pieces of information, presented without context, logical connection, or any reasoning. You receive the same type of feed from on-line sources like X, formerly known as Twitter, and many more. Not only information is fragmented and disconnected, but there is also so much of it, so many individual pieces to screen that the human brain just cannot contain it. Social media and the Internet have also been shown to shorten our attention spans. Individuals immersed in digital media find it impossible to read books for long periods of time, and often skim articles online rather than reading every word. This phenomenon can be particularly troubling for youth, whose brains are more malleable and, therefore, may fail to develop concentration skills. Books became obsolete and so did newspapers. Children do not learn how to handwrite, because they use touch screens of computers and iPads instead of pens and notebooks. Amlagainst this speedy progress in technology? Absolutely not. Technology is a great tool, assisting us in every aspect of personal and professional life. I do not know how I would function without it. But I am against the speedy way of life and communication, especially about our own health, significant news, learning new skills and similar. We are not robots, and we should not be. If we minimize our interactions to robotic features and allow Al and other technological discoveries to take over decision-making processes, we will not only experience more anxiety; we will face a total mental health crisis that cannot be reversed. I admire technology geniuses, but what I admire the most in some of them is that they are warning us to stop and think. Think about our future with respect to human touch and human relations. Human touch is what will save us. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology How We Have Changed ! Discussing some medical cases with my friends doctors , we all agree that , regardless of a reason and diagnosis of a visit , half of our patients list anxiety as one of their medical issues . This is not how it used to be years ago . Granted , you may say that often before anxiety was simply not properly diagnosed . There is some truth to that as well . But it seems like we have a massive epidemic of people of all ages who suffer from anxiety these days . I am not a psychiatrist or a psychologist , so I do not attempt to address it with my patients ; rather I tend to suggest that they may benefit from seeing a specialist who can offer some remedy in various options . Anxiety is not uncommon in patients with chronic illnesses . Dealing with constant pain or itching , missing sleep , avoiding social contacts are not positive experiences in anyone's life and , after months or years , they contribute to our mental status . But there are many external factors that can contribute to our mental and even physical health as well . As much as we love our devices and new cell phones , they often disturb what is a human natural state of mind . Technology has simply altered our physiology . It makes us think differently , feel differently , even dream differently . It affects our memory , attention spans and sleep cycles . This is attributed to a scientific phenomenon known as neuroplasticity , or the brain's ability to alter its behavior based on new experiences . We experience novelties in technology every month now . Not a single month flies by without an update run on our phones . Have you tried reading the news on the Internet ? What you find are fragmented pieces of information , presented without context , logical connection , or any reasoning . You receive the same type of feed from on - line sources like X , formerly known as Twitter , and many more . Not only information is fragmented and disconnected , but there is also so much of it , so many individual pieces to screen that the human brain just cannot contain it . Social media and the Internet have also been shown to shorten our attention spans . Individuals immersed in digital media find it impossible to read books for long periods of time , and often skim articles online rather than reading every word . This phenomenon can be particularly troubling for youth , whose brains are more malleable and , therefore , may fail to develop concentration skills . Books became obsolete and so did newspapers . Children do not learn how to handwrite , because they use touch screens of computers and iPads instead of pens and notebooks . Amlagainst this speedy progress in technology ? Absolutely not . Technology is a great tool , assisting us in every aspect of personal and professional life . I do not know how I would function without it . But I am against the speedy way of life and communication , especially about our own health , significant news , learning new skills and similar . We are not robots , and we should not be . If we minimize our interactions to robotic features and allow Al and other technological discoveries to take over decision - making processes , we will not only experience more anxiety ; we will face a total mental health crisis that cannot be reversed . I admire technology geniuses , but what I admire the most in some of them is that they are warning us to stop and think . Think about our future with respect to human touch and human relations . Human touch is what will save us . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net