Emailing 'can make you ill'

Office workers are spending more time glued to their computer, leading to irritability and health problems, a survey said yesterday.

Instead of talking to their colleagues in person, many prefer to stay in their chair and communicate by e-mail.

As a result, two thirds of white-collar

workers spend more time at their desk than they did two years ago.

This sedentary lifestyle, combined with poor eating habits and an ever-increasing clutter on desks, is causing a surge in ill health.

The problem - dubbed 'irritable desk syndrome' - is most acute among the Internet-obsessed 18 to 24-year-olds, the Populus study for electronics giant NECMitsubishi found.

More than one in four of the 2,000 people who were surveyed experienced repetitive strain injury due to excessive typing while one in three complained of back or neck pain.