Americans are more reliant on their smart phones and laptops than ever before, but many of us are unaware of the potential harm our favorite gadgets could cause.
“As a society, we have become so dependent on these devices,” Dr. Roshini Raj says, “But the truth is, we don’t know some of the long term effects.”
Dr. Raj says that while doctors have yet to pinpoint a correlation between cell phone use and brain cancer, neuroscientists researching the case believe a link does exist.
It sounds like some scary stuff, but Dr. Raj has tips to avoid any harmful affects. First, don’t keep your phone in your pocket all day or anywhere too close to your body. Second, use speakerphone or a landline to restrict the amount time your cell is pressed against your head. Third, and most importantly, limit your child’s cell phone exposure.
“Children are particularly susceptible to any kind of radiation damage, increasing their cancer risk,” Dr. Raj says, “So for children, you really need to limit their use.”
It’s not just radiation that’s a tech concern, excessive texting and e-mailing can lead to soreness and carpal tunnel, and staring at screens for too long can affect your sight. Dr. Raj says it won’t “cause permanent vision loss, but it can definitely cause eye strain, tired eyes, itchy, watery painful eyes,” and bring on headaches.
To prevent unwanted vision issues at home or at the office, Dr. Raj suggests you “look away every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds, and take frequent breaks to give your eyes a rest.”
To find out if ear buds can actually lead to hearing loss, watch this episode of Daily Shot. VIDEO
Posts
