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Leaning a notebook on your lap can harm your health and cause neck discomfort.
Additionally, this practice has the potential to compromise long-term device performance. Know the possible complications involved
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Using a notebook resting on your lap is a common practice, but full of potential risks. Generally, when adopting this position, the user ends up adopting a curvature in the spine, resulting in a posture that is harmful to health. Over time, this can lead to serious consequences, such as chronic pain in the neck and cervical region. Furthermore, direct contact between the notebook and the legs can lead to the device overheating and reduce its useful life. For this reason, it is advisable to avoid this practice whenever possible.
However, there are situations, such as work trips or conferences, that may limit how the notebook is used. In these circumstances, it is crucial to look for alternatives to improve body posture, such as the use of tripods or auxiliary tables, while taking due care to preserve the equipment.
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Next, understand why using a notebook on your lap presents dangers and discover how to minimize the risks to your health and the performance of your computer.
Understanding the Dangers
One of the main and most imminent dangers associated with using a notebook resting on your lap is linked to poor posture resulting from this practice. By bending the spine and neck excessively, the user may experience localized discomfort that intensifies with prolonged use and frequency. This habit can cause immediate discomfort and develop into chronic musculoskeletal problems, which may require long-term treatment.
In certain cases, excessive use of the notebook resting on the legs can even give rise to a dermatological condition called Erythema Ab Igne. Due to the heat concentrated directly on the skin, this practice can cause spots on the skin, accompanied by burning and itching sensations. Although traditionally associated with professionals who are frequently exposed to heat, such as cooks, Erythema has become more common among young people due to the intensive use of technology.
Furthermore, resting the notebook on your lap can contribute to the device's malfunction. This is because laptops rely on small fans, known as cooling fans, to prevent overheating. These fans are located at the bottom of the devices and are responsible for dissipating hot air from inside the system through the openings present in the body of the notebook.
When placing the device on your lap, the cooling system outlet is blocked, leading to a rapid increase in the device's temperature. In the long term, this can reduce the notebook's useful life, reduce battery life and even cause damage to internal components.
Some people mistakenly believe that the radiation emitted by these devices could cause diseases such as cancer and that the heat generated by the device could result in male infertility. However, there is no scientific evidence to corroborate these assumptions. According to scientists, the amount of radiation we are exposed to when using a notebook is equivalent to that we experience during an international plane trip, which does not represent a significant risk.
Proper Use of the Notebook
When the possibility of sitting at a desk to use a notebook is not available, there are safer alternatives than using it on your lap. Whenever you need to use your laptop, choose to position it on some support, such as a cushion or a stand specially designed for notebooks. Cooled bases or specific pads were developed to efficiently dissipate heat from the device, preventing overheating and preserving the integrity of your skin. The crucial point is to ensure that the notebook is supported on a solid and level surface, without obstructing the fan openings.
Furthermore, by resting your notebook on another surface, you have the opportunity to adopt a more ergonomic and healthier posture. Try to keep at least the top third of the screen aligned with your eye level, at a distance that allows you to read without leaning forward or forcing your neck to stay down.
