Cell phones : Do they affect your health ?

by August 27, 2012 Health

A large number of people today, carry more than one cellphone. Know about the radiation effect from a mobile and its implication on health issues.

The last few decades have witnessed an exponential rise in the number of cell phone users. Remember the old days when getting a single landline number used to be an achievement? Today, a large number of people are carrying more than one mobile in their pockets. There has been occasional outcry about the harmful effect of radiation that may be associated with use of cellphones.

Are mobile phones harmful? Pic: Wikimedia commons

It is in this context, it would be helpful to understand the radiation effect from a mobile and its implication on health issues. Firstly, the radiation that is emitted is in category of low Radiofrequency. The radiation that is known to cause ill effects is ionising radiation as found in X Rays. Cancer is believed to be caused by factors that affect DNA changes. Most of the Research work done so far fails to associate radiofrequency emission from mobiles with development of cancer.

However, it is advised that patients with certain implants and devices like pacemakers might face some effects due to electromagnetic interference. It is advised that patients on pacemakers hold the mobile on the ear opposite to the implant. It is also advised that they should not carry a turned on mobile close to implant i.e. a shirt or jacket pocket. Use of hands free would also be helpful, if mobile is kept in trouser pocket.

Although, the scientific evidence available today does not associate significant health risks, it must be noted that the studies conducted have been based on limited usage of cellphones. Hence it is recommended that following safety measures be taken to guard against unforeseen risks :

  • If continuous usage is expected it is better to use hands free and keep cell phones away from ears. This is more important in case of usage of cell phone by children.    
  • In case any device like pacemaker is used, it is advisable not to keep the cell phones in shirt pocket.
  • It goes without saying, that use of cell phone while driving needs to be discouraged, since it is not only a question of hands being busy, but also distraction which may cause accidents.⊕
Sections:

About Mukul Saxena

Col (Retd) Dr Mukul Saxena has over 30 years of cross-functional expertise in healthcare, both in public and private sectors.
Read more by Mukul Saxena

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Story

பாதுகாப்பற்ற தண்ணீர், பாதுகாப்பற்ற வாழ்க்கை: சென்னையில் அதிகரித்து வரும் நீர்வழி நோய்கள்

by April 9, 2025 Health
Are you having frequent fevers, abdominal cramps, dehydration or diarrhoea? Well, it could be because of the water you drink

வண்ணாரப்பேட்டையைச் சேர்ந்த 24 வயதான தரிஷினி, தான் தினமும் குடிக்கும் தண்ணீர் தனது உடல்நலத்தை இவ்வளவு மோசமாக பாதிக்கும் என்று ஒருபோதும் எதிர்பார்க்கவில்லை. திருநெல்வேலியைச் சேர்ந்த தரிஷினி கடந்த இரண்டு வருடங்களாக சென்னையில் தனியாக வசித்து வருகிறார். ஒரு நாள் மாலை, வேலையிலிருந்து வீடு திரும்பிய பிறகு, அவருக்கு கடுமையான வயிற்று வலி ஏற்பட்டது. மதிய உணவாக சாப்பிட்ட காரமான உணவு காரணமாக இருக்கலாம் என்று கருதி, அவர் மருந்தகங்களில் கிடைக்கும் சில மருந்துகளை எடுத்துக்கொண்டு படுக்கைக்குச் சென்றார். இருப்பினும், மறுநாள் அவரது அறிகுறிகள் மோசமடைந்தன. மேலும் அவருக்கு அதிக காய்ச்சல் ஏற்பட்டது. அவர் மருத்துவரின் அறிவுரைகளின்றி தானாக மருந்து எடுத்துக்கொண்டு இருந்தார், ஆனால் நிலைமை மோசமாகிவிட்டது. "அதிர்ஷ்டவசமாக, என்னைப் பார்க்க வந்த என் தோழி, நான் உடல்நிலை சரியில்லாமல் இருப்பதைக் கவனித்து அருகிலுள்ள மருத்துவமனைக்கு அழைத்துச் சென்றார். அங்குள்ள மருத்துவர்கள் நான் கடுமையாக நீரிழப்புடன் (severe dehydration) இருப்பதாகவும், என்…

Continue reading

Similar Story

Unsafe water, unsafe lives: The rising threat of waterborne illnesses in Chennai

by April 2, 2025 Health
Are you having frequent fevers, abdominal cramps, dehydration or diarrhoea? Well, it could be because of the water you drink

Dharishini, a 24-year-old resident of Washermenpet, never anticipated that the water she consumed daily would take such a severe toll on her health. Originally from Tirunelveli, Dharishini has been living and working alone in Chennai for the past two years. One evening, after returning home from work, she developed intense stomach pain. Assuming it was due to the spicy food she had for lunch, she took some over-the-counter medicine and went to bed. However, her symptoms worsened the next day, and she developed a high fever. She continued self-medicating, but things took a turn for the worse. “Fortunately, my friend,…

Continue reading