Ways Your Smartphone Can Wreck Your Health
M( COURTECY;-webMD )
1/16
Germs
Your cellphone probably
goes with you everywhere. Ever check it while you were -- errr -- in the bathroom?
And when’s the last time you cleaned it? Ever? It makes sense that there might
be bacteria, viruses, or other germs on it. One study found 1 in 6 phones has
poop on it. On the bright side, it’s a hard surface, which usually makes it
harder for germs to survive. Still, it’s probably a good idea to wipe it down
now then.
1/16
Text
Neck Syndrome
Too much time looking
down at your phone can strain your neck muscles and cause tightness or spasms.
You might even get nerve pain that goes to your back, or to your shoulder and
down your arm. Take breaks at least every 20 minutes to stretch and arch your
back. Try not to hunch forward. It helps to hold your phone higher up when you
text, too. Posture exercises from yoga or Pilates will help you stay strong and
avoid neck pain.
1/16
Awkward
Phone Calls
Ever pinch the phone
between your shoulder and ear while you do something else? It’s not a natural
position. Do it for too long and you’ll probably notice that your neck hurts.
If you can’t avoid it, take breaks and move your neck in other directions to keep
it loose. If the damage is done, simple rest, a heating pad, and
over-the-counter drugs for pain and stiffness should help. Talk to your doctor
if it lasts more than a few days.
1/16
Text
and Drive
Just don’t do
it. Sending a text takes 5 seconds of your attention. That seems so quick.
But it’s not harmless. At 55 mph, your car goes about length of a football
field -- more than enough space to cause a serious car wreck. Scientists figure
this means you may be as much as 23 times more likely to crash. And the risk is
the same whether you type or “voice text.”
1/16
Talk
and Drive
Maybe you think it’s
pretty safe to talk on the phone when you drive. It’s not. You’re 4 times more
likely to crash when you do it. It is a cause in more than a million crashes a
year, or 20% of all car wrecks, including those that injure and kill people. If
you really need to take or make a call, pull over.
1/16
Surfing
at Night
Not waves -- the
Internet. Too much of any light after the sun goes down can mess up your sleep,
which is linked to diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and other health problems.
And the “blue light” your smartphone gives off is especially bad. Keep your
bedroom dark for better rest. You can also help your nighttime sleep if you get
lots of natural light during the day.
1/16
Walkin’
or Talkin’ -- Not Both
You’re walking down the
sidewalk and need to send a quick text. How long does it take? A few seconds?
Enough time to trip and fall into a parking meter or car traffic. Just stop for
a moment. Those seconds aren’t worth an accident. And it’s not just outside:
The most common injuries happen while talking on the phone at home -- usually
muscle and tendon strains, broken bones, and head injuries.
1/16
Cancer
Risk?
Studies don’t show any
solid link to cancer or even tumors in people. It’s something scientists
continue to study. If you’re worried about the radiation from cellphones, you
can limit your cellphone use, or use it in speaker mode or with a headset or
earpiece.
1/16
Trigger
Thumb
This is when your thumb
gets stuck in a bent position or pops when you try to straighten it. This pop
can hurt. It happens when the sheath surrounding your thumb tendon thickens so
that the tendon can’t slide freely. Lots of texting or typing on a cellphone,
or just holding a smartphone tightly, can cause trigger thumb. The treatment
includes cutting down on your cellphone use.
1/16
Thumb
Arthritis
While it's not
clear that cellphone use actually causes thumb arthritis, it can definitely
make the symptoms worse. Thumb arthritis causes pain and tenderness at the base
of your thumb, where it meets the wrist. Pinching motions, like gripping your phone
or texting with your thumbs, are the type that can cause or worsen the
condition. Though there’s no cure, rest, medication, and splints can all help.
1/16
Cubital
Tunnel Syndrome
If you lean on your
elbows to text or bend them to hold the phone to your ear, it can irritate the
ulnar nerve at your elbow. This can cause numbness and tingling in the
ring and small fingers, and soreness on the inside of the elbow or forearm.
Cushion your elbow on hard surfaces. Don’t bend your elbow for a long time.
Take breaks to move your arms in different directions. A night splint to keep
your arm straight may help, too.
1/16
Interference
If you use your mobile
phone very close to medical devices like pacemakers or implantable
defibrillators, they may not work the way they're supposed to. The phones can
even interfere with certain kinds of hearing aids. Talk to your doctor if you
notice any problems with your medical device, especially if it happens when you
use your smartphone.
1/16
Eye
Problems
The shorter
wavelength of the blue light that smartphones give off can tire your eyes very
quickly and cause pain. It may even damage your cornea (the clear
lens on the front of the eye) and harm your vision. If you notice these
problems, it’s best to limit your time with blue-light digital devices like
smartphones and computers, or at least to take breaks often to rest
your eyes.
1/16
Health
Care Mistakes
Phones are distracting
for everyone. If your doctors or nurses are on their phones, it could make
errors more likely. One study found that mistakes in checking symptoms and in
proper treatment each went up by more than 12% with just a single interruption
by a smartphone.
1/16
Can
You Hear Me Now?
Even if you don’t look
at it, just putting a phone in plain view when you talk to someone can get in
the way of making a strong connection. It’s especially a problem in close
relationships and when you’re talking about something meaningful. Maybe save that
social media update for later and focus on the person sitting right in front of
you in real life.
This tool does not provide medical advice.
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