Preventing Headaches When Reading

Do not read when you are lying down. A reclining posture is clearly not the best position to read. It is a very common thing for a person to flop down on the bed with a book and read it while lying down. In fact, many people make it a habit to read for a few minutes before going to sleep. Let us say it once and for all: it is not good to read while you are lying down.

If you must read in bed, prop up your head with at least two pillows. If you find it impossible to read while you are in bed, the best thing that you can do is prop up your head with a couple of pillows. Pillows give support to your head and neck so that your head is in a partially raised position. This will cause less harm to your eyes and your head in general.

The lighting of your room too is very important. A properly lit room is required if you want to read, do needle work or any other fine activity. Too much light is just as bad as a dimly lit room, though; don't read in glaring light.

The source of light should not come from in front of your eyes but should be behind your head. This is also true in the case of a computer as well; the source of light should be from behind.

The light from your T.V or P.C monitor is not enough to read. Some people tend to read in the light that comes from a turned on television set or a computer. This light is not enough for your eyes to pick out what is printed, and should be combined with lamplight or overhead light.

Do not hold the book too close to your eyes. This is something that happens particularly when you lie down to read (see above); the book tends to move closer to your eyes than intended. This is something that is bad for your eyes. Your eye muscles have to strain a lot in order to focus on nearer objects. The book should ideally be at the level of your chest.

However, holding the book too far away is just as bad as holding the book too close. Remember to keep it at chest level. Many bookstores have reading stands that will enable you to keep your book position at the right level.

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