Everywhere you go, you have your smartphone with you. You may question, are smartphones dangerous to health? To be honest, it is. It’s with you at school, at work, and while you’re out shopping or doing errands. Some folks even take their phones into the restroom (which is not advised)! Smartphones contain viruses and germs that may make you ill, such as E. coli. Wipe down your smartphone using alcohol-based wipes that are suitable for electronics at least once a day to remove dirt, dust, and bacteria.
Keep an Eye on Your Neck
Furthermore, the answer is are smartphones dangerous to health, neck muscles are strained while texting or surfing on a smartphone, which may lead to knots or spasms. It might also result in nerve discomfort radiating down the arms, shoulders, or back. When messaging or surfing on your smartphone, take frequent pauses of at least 20 minutes. Maintain a healthy posture and avoid hunching forward. When you’re using your phone, raise it higher in your hand. Smartphone ergonomics may assist avoid injuries related to smartphone usage, which is a major public health concern. Regularly engage in muscle-strengthening and stretching exercises such as yoga and Pilates.
Holding the Phone Correctly
Neck discomfort may be caused by any posture that requires bending the neck in an unnatural position for an extended length of time, such as holding your smartphone between your shoulder and ear. If you stay in this posture for too long, you may get a neck ache. If you have to converse on the phone while in this posture, take regular pauses and adjust your neck to prevent becoming stiff. If your neck cramps, take a break and apply a heating pad to the affected region to relieve the pain. Pain and stiffness may both be reduced using over-the-counter pain medications. Consult your doctor if the discomfort persists for more than a few days.
Driving While Texting
Texting while driving is very risky. Texting while driving diverts your attention away from the road. It just takes a few seconds of inattention for an accident to occur. Almost 2800 people were murdered and nearly 300,000 people were wounded in automobile accidents caused by inattentive driving in 2019. Cell phone usage while driving is prohibited in certain states. Other states require mobile phone usage to be done hands-free while driving.
Talking on the Phone While Driving
It is a common misperception that talking on a smartphone while driving is safe. It isn’t secure. When you talk on the phone while driving, you’re engaging in what’s known as a cognitive distraction. This form of distraction draws your attention away from the road, so even if you’re using a hands-free gadget with voice-activated dialing and operation, your mind is elsewhere. When you’re chatting on the phone while driving, your eyes and brain sense what’s around you, but you don’t truly see your surroundings. While driving, talking on a smartphone dramatically increases the chance of a vehicle collision. Pullover to the side of the road if you need to make or receive a phone call while driving.
Blue Light Should Be Avoided
Blue light with a shorter wavelength, such as that generated by cellphones, lamps, computers, tablets, and TV displays, is harmful to one’s health. Circadian rhythms are disrupted by exposure to this wavelength of light. After the sun goes down, exposure to blue light disrupts sleep. Heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other health problems may be exacerbated by blue light. After dark, limit your exposure to unneeded light, such as smartphone displays. Getting enough natural light throughout the day can also help you sleep better.
While walking, be aware of your surroundings
It is dangerous to walk while texting or browsing on your smartphone. You may believe it’s OK to type a brief text while out and about, but you might step into a busy junction, slip, and fall, or run into anything during that time. Surprisingly, 52 percent of pedestrian accidents occur at home when individuals are distracted by their smartphones. Broken bones, head traumas, and muscle and tendon strains are all possible outcomes of accidents. When you need to make a call, send a text, or converse on your smartphone, sit down or stand motionless.
Do Smartphones Increase the Risk of Cancer? Are smartphones dangerous to health?
Some individuals are concerned that mobile phone usage is linked to brain tumors, brain malignancies, and other tumors and cancers. Epidemiological studies have shown no evidence of a relationship between smartphone usage and these disorders. Limit the length of time you use your mobile phone if you are concerned about the ionizing radiation it emits. If you want to reduce your exposure to mobile phone radiation, wear a headphone or converse on the phone in speaker mode.
The Interphone research was a case-control study that looked at the impact of cell phone usage on the likelihood of developing a brain tumor. Cell phone usage was shown to have no effect on the risk of two forms of malignancies, glioma, and meningioma, according to the research. The research found an elevated risk of glioma with the greatest levels of exposure, however, due to biases and errors in the analysis, a causal conclusion could not be drawn. The long-term health repercussions of extensive cell phone usage should be researched further.
If you’re still concerned about smartphone radiation, use a corded headset or earpiece while talking on the phone. Select a cellular phone with a low SAR rating. The abbreviation SAR refers to the rate of specific absorption. It’s a measurement of how quickly the body absorbs radiation while using a smartphone. The quantity of radiation absorbed by the body from mobile phones is determined by factors other than the SAR rating. Other sources of electromagnetic radiation in our surroundings include cordless phones (wireless phones, including base stations), microwave ovens, and cell towers.
Take Care of Your Thumbs
Excessive texting on a smartphone or smartphone might result in a trigger finger or thumb. This is when your thumb becomes trapped in a bent position and snaps or pops when you attempt to straighten it. The inflammation of the thumb’s tendon is the cause of the ailment. The tendon’s ability to glide smoothly with movement is hampered by inflammation. The afflicted thumb may be painful in addition to stiffness and popping. If you have this issue, relax your thumb and limit your texting to let it go away.
Texting and Arthritis
Excessive smartphone usage has been linked to an increase in thumb arthritis symptoms. Tenderness and soreness near the base of the thumb are symptoms of this illness. It’s possible that gripping your phone and texting with your thumb can aggravate the discomfort. There is no cure for arthritis, but it may be managed with rest, pain medication, and the use of a splint. Although there are various varieties of arthritis, degenerative or “wear-and-tear” arthritis is the most prevalent type that affects the base of the thumb. Osteoarthritis is another name for this condition.
What Is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and How Does It Affect You?
Cubital tunnel syndrome affects the ulnar nerve in the elbow, causing it to become compressed. The exterior of the hands, notably the ring and tiny fingers, become numb and tingly as a result of this. The forearm and elbow may also be inflamed. If you lean on your elbows while texting or bend your elbows while holding your phone to your ear, you may acquire this ailment. Cushion your forearms on hard surfaces to save your elbows and prevent injury. For lengthy periods of time, avoid bending your elbows. Take frequent rests and periodically move and extend your arms. If necessary, use a splint at night to keep your arms straight.
Electronic Interference Should Be Avoided
Smartphones have the potential to interfere with medical equipment such as pacemakers and implanted defibrillators. The gadgets may malfunction as a result of the interference. Some hearing aids may be affected by the use of mobile phones. If you think your smartphone or smartphone is interfering with the operation of any of your medical equipment, see your doctor. Medical equipment may be harmed by imaging tests such as MRIs and CT scans, as well as security scanners used at airports.
Take Care of Your Vision
Smartphones and other forms of devices produce short-wavelength blue light, which may cause eye strain and discomfort. This sort of light may harm the cornea and cause visual problems. On the front of the eye, the cornea is a transparent lens. Reduce your smartphone use if you have eye strain, discomfort, or vision issues as a result of it. Tablets, PCs, and televisions are all in the same boat. Take regular pauses to rest your eyes while using these gadgets.
In Medical Care, Smartphone Distraction
Doctors and other healthcare professionals are not immune to the effects of smartphone distraction. According to one research, when practitioners are on their cellphones, they are more likely to make mistakes that have a detrimental impact on patients. The research found that when doctors are stopped by a smartphone only once during a patient visit, they make at least 12% more errors in evaluating symptoms and administering adequate therapy. When you come in for your appointment, ask your practitioner to put your phone away.
Smartphones and Social Networking
When people are preoccupied with their cell phones, they lose out on vital in-person encounters and relationships. Even the presence of a smartphone while individuals are engaging in person, believe it or not, reduces intimacy and trust between people. People’s capacity to feel empathy and understanding from others around them is also harmed. The presence of a smartphone interferes with intimacy and bonding. When you’re connecting with individuals in person, put your phone down.
