Jan.19: HEALTH MATTERS
- Posted by CERC India
- Posted in JANUARY
Your smartphone can make you sick
Smartphones have become an indispensable part of our lives. Excessive use of a smartphone causes side effects such as a dull headache, dizziness and nausea. But, smartphones also pose other serious health hazards.
Cancer and heart problems: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an organ of the WHO, has classified cell phone use as “possibly carcinogenic to humansâ€. The electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell phones is also reported to contribute to abnormalities in heart function.Â
Germ hotspot: Your phone gets bombarded with germs every time it is used. A recent study done by Harvard University found that 25% phones have faecal matter on them.Â
Eyesight and hearing: The glare on the screen and small font size strain the eyes, especially if you are reading in the dark. Studies report that long-term exposure to an electromagnetic field reduces hearing function.Â
Infertility and allergies: Research has revealed that men who use mobile phones have a decreased sperm count. Cell phones contain potential skin allergens like nickel, chromium and cobalt which cause contact dermatitis.
Texting and thumbs: Too much texting and typing on the phone hurts the thumbs. These are repetitive stress injuries and could also affect the wrist and elbows.
Problems of posture: Constant tilting down to look at your phone screen can take its toll, leading to neck and back pain. Â
Hinders sleep: The blue light emitted by cell phones disrupts sleep. Research has shown that individuals with smartphones in the bedroom sleep less each night.Â
Medical devices: Smartphones may cause medical devices like pacemakers, implantable defibrillators and hearing aids to malfunction.Â
Increased accident risk: Be it while driving or while crossing the road, a mobile phone can be a potential distraction.Â
Social and psychological issues: Cell phones interfere with normal socialization. Some people suffer from nomophobia – the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. The general desperate nature of people to be available 24/7 on their mobiles is responsible for high stress levels.
All in all, it is prudent to limit cell phone usage.
Sources: The Quint, www.thehealthsite.com, www.globalhealingcenter.com
