It's hard for most of us to imagine what our lives would be like without mobile phones.
Despite all the often discussed negatives, no one can deny that mobile phones have made our lives easier.
No matter what corner of the world they may be in, family, friends and colleagues are just a few simple clicks away.
Keeping up with world events has never been easier.
Moreover, mobile phones are a 24/7 entertainment package that provides quick access to various social media sites, video channels, high-quality graphic games and applications that suit diverse interests.
Mobile phones became an essential part of our lives in 2009. By 2014, the global mobile phone subscription rate reached 6.9 billion, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mobile phones and health
Mobile phones can be neither a blessing nor a curse. Excessive use of mobile phones, especially in bed time It is a global habit that has major negative effects.
Of 1 Belgian teens whose nighttime cell phone use patterns were assessed, 656 percent did not use their cell phones at all, according to a 38 study published in Sleep.
Electromagnetic radiation from cell phones is a major cause of insomnia, anxiety, and other mental disorders.
got engaged Previous Post وDepression وSleep disorders Positively, mobile phone use increased among 4156 young adults (ages 20 to 24) over a one-year period, according to a 2011 study published in BMC Public Health.
Among 337 students whose cell phone use patterns were assessed, a significant number (especially females) reported severe anxiety and insomnia, according to a 2007 study published in the journal Addiction Research and Theory.
In a 2013 study published in Community Medicine and Health Education, the cell phone use patterns of 459 college students (ages 17 to 23) were assessed for two months.
The study indicates that 51.5 percent reported experiencing a headache / recurring headache , 50.8 percent reported anger and irritation, and 47.4 percent reported lack of focus , 38.5 percent for anxiety, and 36.5 percent for eye strain , 35.4 percent for lack of sleep, and 32.7 percent for fatigue.
Cell phone radiation also negatively affects reproductive health.
High cell phone use was directly and significantly associated with lower sperm count وinfertility Kidney stones in 361 men undergoing evaluation in a clinic, according to a 2008 study published in Journal of Fertility and Sterility.
Furthermore, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer has declared cell phone radiation a possible carcinogen. However, further studies are needed to substantiate this claim.
Preventive measures
As cell phones take over as the primary means of communication, completely abandoning them is not a realistic option. However, we can take certain measures to reduce the health risks of cell phone radiation.
Here is a list of things you should do now to protect yourself from cell phone radiation.
1. Use the loudspeaker
Your cell phone emits electromagnetic waves right near your head when you hold it up to your ear. The further you can keep your phone away from your head, the safer you'll be.
At a minimum, a safety guide is recommended. Apple iPhone Users should follow the Federal Communications Commission's safety guidelines to reduce exposure to cell phone radiation:
“When using iPhone near your body for voice calls or wireless data transfers over a cellular network, keep iPhone at least 15 mm (5/8 inch) away from your body.”
Although talking on a loudspeaker can be annoying if you're in a public place, it's a sure way to reduce the risk of radiation that directly harms your brain and leads to countless psychological disorders.
2. Text more, talk less.
Sometimes, you just can't avoid talking on the phone, and that's okay. During emergencies and many other situations, talking on the phone is necessary.
The key to reducing radiation damage is to identify situations where text is sufficient and use those opportunities to your advantage.
Often, we are too lazy to write. We feel like we are wasting time writing a letter that could be delivered more quickly over a phone call.
However, you should resist these additions and text your way to better health. To make it easier, explore the options on your phone to dictate your text messages instead of having to type them.
3. Buy a headset with a ferrite bead installed.
When you talk on a cell phone, your voice travels through the antenna in the form of radio frequency radiation, exposure to which is increasingly harmful.
According to a 2003 study published in Radiation Research, the hands-free device significantly reduces radiofrequency radiation to the head.
Headphone wires can also pick up a certain amount of radiation and transmit it to your head, although it's much less than when using a phone.
Make sure to purchase headphones with a ferrite bead installed. A ferrite bead is a hollow, semi-magnetic bead attached to the headphone wire that absorbs radio frequency radiation.
Cell phone radiation can be avoided by using a properly sized, positioned, and ferrite bead, according to a 2014 study published in the International Journal of Pure and Applied Research in Engineering and Technology.
4. Do not use the phone in remote areas.
When you're in a remote area, your phone isn't limited to accessing cell towers.
So, when you try to make a phone call from the middle of nowhere, your phone emits excess radiation as it tries to pick up signals to send your call across. This ends up exposing you to dangerous radiation.
In a 2004 study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, all phone calls made via a particular service provider from four different areas (rural, suburban, small urban, and city) over a week were recorded.
5. Do not use your phone in a moving car or elevator.
The same logic applies here as well. When you're on the move, it's harder for your phone to connect to cell towers and boost signals. Therefore, it must produce more radiation to achieve connectivity.
This exposes you to more harmful radiation than average.
Furthermore, radiation deflection on metal parts inside cars, trains, buses, and elevator walls can further aggravate the effect and increase exposure within those confines.
Also, avoid using your cell phone downstairs.
6. Keep your phone away from your body.
Studies have shown that cell phones can affect not only your brain, but also your reproductive organs.
An overall decrease in sperm production was found in men who regularly used mobile phones, and abnormal sperm production was reported in men who used GSM phones for 1-2 years, according to a 2007 study published in the Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine.
Our phones light up in our pockets when we receive calls. These are additional ways we're exposed to radiation.
Keep your phone as far away from your body as possible. Also, consider using a cell phone case to protect yourself from further exposure.
7. Use of landline telephone
Yes, going old school has its benefits.
Just the thought of getting a landline and using it every time we need to make a call is a daunting task for most of us.
However, remember the health benefits of reducing cell phone radiation and diligently using a landline phone instead of your cell phone whenever you are at home, or wherever you have the option to do so.
Keep in mind that a cordless phone, too, will emit radiation and is not the same harmless option as a landline phone with a cord.
Choose a service provider that allows you to forward your cell calls to a landline number to ensure you use the most secure option when you're at home.
8. Activate airplane mode or turn off your phone
Put your cell phone in airplane mode to limit connectivity, and thus radiation exposure, whenever you can.
You can also choose to turn off your phone to protect yourself from unwanted radiation when you have no choice but to carry your phone in your pocket or if you sleep with it next to you.
9. Waiting for connection
This is a very simple tip to reduce cell phone radiation.
When you start a call, hold your phone at a large distance and wait for the screen to tell you when it stops “calling” and achieves “calling” mode.
There's no need to hold your phone to your ear and absorb harmful radiation while it's ringing. Only do this when the other person is calling.
10. Switch sides
While on a call, switch the phone between each ear to allow yourself a few microseconds away from the phone.
This is a free practice if you already take precautions to reduce cell phone radiation exposure, but still need to make phone calls from time to time.
Often times, you may find yourself in a hurry to connect a wired headset, or in a public space where you lack privacy or don't want to disturb others with your speakerphone.
In such cases, switching sides is the best option to reduce radiation exposure.
