Today’s world is run by technology and modern inventions. One device that is at the top of it all is the cellphone. Now a days who doesn’t have one? They control our lives. We use them to communicate, organize information, browse the web, and even just to entertain ourselves. Although there are many benefits to our phones, there are also a lot of negative effects it has on us that many of us aren’t even aware of.
One of the many negative effects that constant cellphone use causes is an increase in risk of illness. Believe it or not your phone is one of the most germ-infested objects that you may come in contact with throughout the course of a day. In just a 24 hours span, a phone may encounter many germ-infested places such as your pocket/purse, your hands, and even your face. You use it while you’re eating, you use it at the gym, and you even use it while going to the bathroom. As a matter of fact speaking of bathrooms, cellphones carry ten times more bacteria than most toilet seats.
Another issue that we have all recently seen is a rise in automobile accidents caused by texting. People are so focused on being on their phones while driving that they don’t pay attention to the road and risk putting other peoples lives in danger. It has been recorded that texting and driving makes you 23 times more likely to crash and causes 1,600,000 automobile accidents per year. Even talking on the phone instead of texting is dangerous. Even though your aren’t looking at your phone anymore you are still distracted by your phone and wont have both hands on the wheel. Being concentrated on your phone dramatically reduces your reaction time, and nothing can reduce the risk besides not using the phone while driving all together.
Not only can frequent phone use have negative psychological effects, it can also be physically damaging. Constant cellphone use has been linked to chronic pain in numerous studies. It is doing us harm in ways we would never imagine. “Cell phones require constant use of your hands, especially when sending text messages and e-mails. Responding to messages at rapid speed can cause pain and inflammation of your joints”. This leads to conditions such as carpal tunnel, a condition in which there is excessive pressure on the median nerve located in the wrist that allows feeling and movement to parts of the hand. Carpal tunnel may lead to weakness and muscle damage in the hand and fingers.
Along with all of these negative effects, constant cellphone use has also been linked to loss of vision and even more severe, brain cancer. So you tell me, is all of that worth it. Of course I’m not telling you to completely get rid of your phone but using it less often will be sure to lead to better results in the long run.
Sources:
http://www.medicaldaily.com/5-reasons-why-cellphones-are-bad-your-health-247624
http://www.livescience.com/22822-cell-phones-germs.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001469/#adam_000433.disease.symptoms
I’ve never thought about how many germs are actually on my phone until I read this. My cellphone is constantly in my hand, next to me, or in the hands of one of my (probably germy and sick) friends. I’ve heard rumors that cellphones could possibly cause cancer, but I never considered getting a cold from texting!
It is true that our cellphones are highly addictive. People say they almost feel ‘naked’ without them. Even though it is an easy way to interact with others and stay up to date on social media it is important that we limit our use. In an article I recently read it was reported that in 2010 Americans spent $42.8 Million dollars on mobile devices. This number has only been rising and doesn’t seem to be declining any time soon. Here is a link to an article with many mind blowing cellphone statistics.
http://griffintechnology.com/blog/fun/mind-blowing-cellphone-statistics/
Despite the fact that this is slightly frightening, this post is very interesting! I have never truly considered the impact of cell phone use on health. It is clear that the addictiveness of cell phones can have highly negative effects. This article explores some of them further: http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20140116/Teen/301169992
Ive had my iphone for little over a year and it has already broken. The screen is cracked and i still use it because the touch screen is still functioning. I always had my phone on me until my dad scared me to limit my cellphone use because of radiation. I looked some stuff up about it and turns out its true. The radiation from cellphones can cause cancer if we’re exposed for too long. According to an article on cell phones causing cancer, “Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy (radio waves), a form of non-ionizing radiation. Tissues nearest to where the phone is held can absorb this energy.” Im pretty glad I keep my cellphone use at a minimum now. And i never sleep with it next to my head or under my pillow.
Source: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones
Wow! I use my phone all the time and have never taken into consideration all the germs it may carry. Every now and then I use a disinfected wipe to clean my case, but that is very rare. Now that I am thinking about it, that is actually disgusting all the germs that can be present on my cell phone which I am constantly uses so close to my mouth. I can also agree with you on the vision aspect, I do notice that after I am on my phone for sometime my eyes are burning even when I where my glasses. This article goes into depth of the disorder that comes with being hooked to your phone, and the findings regarding vision are extraordinary.http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42116442/ns/health-womens_health/#.VEot80tH1FI
I did a blog post similar to this! Cellphone use may also be linked to cancer. Recently, the World Health Organization listed mobile phone use in the same “carcinogenic hazard” category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform. I think it is crazy that something we depend on for daily communication can be so harmful to our health. Only time can tell what long term effects will come of cellphones because they haven’t been around for that long. If you would like to know more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/10694565/Cancer-and-nerve-damage-is-this-the-human-cost-of-an-iPhone.html