In a segment of the Fox KTVU morning program, wellness expert Reena Vokoun discusses how modern technology negatively affects physical and mental health. She explains that blue‑light exposure from screens before bedtime disrupts sleep by overstimulating the brain. Constant connectivity leads to prolonged sedentary behavior, causing muscle stiffness, joint issues, and increasing risk for heart disease, diabetes, and obesity—a link highlighted by a Milken Institute study. Vokoun also notes musculoskeletal problems such as back, neck pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome from extended computer use. Social‑media platforms fuel unhealthy social comparison, contributing to anxiety and depression, especially for those predisposed to mood disorders. To counteract these effects, she recommends a screen‑free window of 30–60 minutes before sleep, taking movement breaks roughly every 90 minutes, aiming for about 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, and setting clear social‑media limits or taking periodic hiatuses. She acknowledges workplace tech cultures that keep employees glued to screens but stresses the importance of balancing productivity with physical activity for overall well‑being.
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Coming up here on Mornings on 2 the 9 is technology having a negative impact on your health? Up next, we're joined by a health and wellness expert with more on the impact of technology and what you can do to get control of your tech situation. Many of us know that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be very time-consuming.
And a new study shows technology could have an impact on our overall health.
Joining us this morning is Reena Vokoun, founder of health, wellness, and fitness lifestyle company called PassionFit. And the first question I have for you is the other day someone reminded me that I shouldn't be looking at this at night right before I go to bed. The light somehow messes with your sleep.
Is that true?
Yes, the light does mess with your sleep actually. It just keeps you overly stimulated. It'll keep you awake longer, and then all of the information and media that you're consuming is gonna be filling in your head.
This thing is my life.
I know, but you've got to take some breaks from it. About 30 to 60 minutes before bed, maybe put it away, read a book, do some yoga or something to unwind and relax before bedtime to ensure you get better sleep.
Is this— I mean, back when we were kids, right?
Yeah.
The bad thing was sitting in in front of the TV all day. Yeah. TV, mom could turn it off. Right. The problem is this is with you everywhere. Is that part of the problem?
Yes, exactly. There's this accessibility for smartphones, for tablets, for laptops when you're at work, and that causes you to be constantly stimulated, constantly connected, which creates stress. You're also sedentary if you're sitting down with those screens. That can create muscle stiffness, lack of movement in your joints, and that could lead to other diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and other things.
Well, this Milken Institute study talks about the correlation of technology and obesity specifically. So you talk about sitting at your desk, I mean, and not the lack of movement.
Yes.
That takes, comes into play here?
Exactly, that lack of movement can create a lot of pain in your lower extremities, perhaps in your back and your neck. A lot of people, as we know, get carpal tunnel syndrome in their forearms from being at a computer all day. So that's something to be aware of, and it's important to take breaks every 90 minutes. In all of my years working in corporate America, having worked at Google, I was trained to get up every 90 minutes, get some fresh air, talk to coworkers. Just to move. Just to move your body. And try to get exercise about 150 minutes a week of moderate activity.
I feel that some of the problems is not every company out there, but I have friends who work in tech in certain companies, they make it so enticing for you to stay there.
Yes.
In the building. They'll feed you.
Right, right. You can get beer after work.
Get your oil changed. You can sleep here.
As long as you're working and doing. Do you find like that setup maybe isn't beneficial physically for the person?
Yeah, I mean, it certainly, it's a wonderful benefit of course, but it does keep employees in the workplace longer, they're connected longer, and they're in that sedentary position longer, so.
We're watching people exercise here. How much does exercise sort of erase some of the bad things that you accumulate from tech?
Yeah.
If you go, let's say you exercise 3 times a week for an hour, does that go a long way to erase some of the bad effects of tech?
Absolutely, it certainly does. It helps you to move your body so that again you're not in this static position all the time. It also is good for your mental health. When you're physically strong, you're mentally strong, you're able to be more balanced and you're not gonna be always, you know, focused so much too much on the technology and consuming the media.
What I hate is that I look around, I've got a great job, two great children, you know, the best husband in the world, but when I go on Instagram, yes, I didn't go to Tahiti for spring break, I didn't lose 40 pounds in, in 3 months. I think the mental aspect of it is, is much worse for me than the sedentary part.
Yes, it's all too common, right? When we're constantly on Instagram and Facebook and we're comparing ourselves to everybody, it does make you feel like maybe I'm not, you know, achieving as much, maybe I don't look as good, and it does cause you to feel maybe anxious, maybe a little depressed, and depending on your personality, and a lot of people with pre-genetic dispositions to depression and things have to be really careful.
So real quick, number one tip would be what to our viewers?
So it's to, you know, maybe go on hiatus. I know a lot of people that have taken a month or two off of social media just to focus on their own life, be grateful for what they have, and reset a little bit. Or just have guidelines. Tell yourself, I'm only gonna be on social media for a certain number of hours a day, and then just put it away.
Sometimes I find myself even taking this thing into the gym.
Yeah.
Why am I It has your music on it, right? No, I don't really listen. I just bring it in. Reena, thank you.
Thank you so much. Great to see you all again.
Good to see you too. Coming up next, right here on Mornings on Two, the
