Let us begin with an eye-opening fact about Mobile phone and health,
“Our phones are a two-edged sword. They link us to the world while also disconnecting us from health, values, and reality.”
Do you feel that technology and phones are controlling us? Isn’t it like this that we all are trapped in a prison for digitalization? Why is the technology that was supposed to be an ease for humans controlling people?
Well, all these realizations might sound cliché but deep inside this is the story of several people.
Our phones have become a central part of our everyday lives. From the time when it was the offline world, we all have entered into the age of the online world which is instant access to information, entertainment, and social connections.
Today, we are not discussing another side of technology, and we would reflect on the eye-opening fact of how our cell phones are killing us? Not in terms of actual death, but the time, health, and values.
Where has that all time gone when kids used to play outside, creating beautiful memories and enjoying the actual pleasures of life?
It will not be wrong to say that phone-free time is long gone and now it is the smartphones, smartphones, and smartphones everywhere. They are the memories, they are the friends, they are the toys and sadly they are the life.
Although there is no denying the convenience of a smartphone, the issue is the long-term effects of excessive phone use and its harm to our health.
The relation between Mobile phone and health
Just make a scenario in mind where you are seeing yourself in the most uncomfortable posture any human could ever be in while lying or sitting and using the phone. Hours and hours are gone and you are uselessly wasting your time and health. This is what a lot of people of this generation are doing. How come this is beneficial to anyone’s health? There is no way it is.
Excessive phone use has been related to various short-term and long-term effects on health issues. Eye strain, headaches, neck pain, periods of sleep disorders, pain and numbness in the hands and wrists, and above all mental health issues.
It is important to realize that death is not the thing that makes anything harmful in terms of health. Even the minor to major impacts of a certain thing is a concern.
One of the most serious worries about phone use is the potential long-term effects of radiofrequency radiation exposure.
Let us now brief the possible Mobile phone and health consequences of using too many phones.
- The physical stress of using a phone for long periods
- The mental stress of always being linked to technology
When we use our phones for lengthy amounts of time, it causes neck and shoulder pain. Furthermore, long phone use can cause eye strain because we are off balance and try to view the small text on a screen. Often, the high brightness pops out of the phone directly to our eyes and face.
Nonetheless, in my opinion, the more concerning long-term effects of excessive phone use are on our mental health and this factor is killing people.
Let us all admit this eye-opening fact that we fantasize about the things we see on social media or anywhere via phones.
Excessive phone use that constantly shows people wearing certain someone, eating certain something, going here and there, and without even knowing the back story has been linked to increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
Why and how? Because we become more disconnected from the real world and more focused on the digital sphere like we live there.
Also, as we become more dependent on technology to do our thinking for us, phone use has been linked to a drop in cognitive performance, memory, and attention span. Now, what does it means?
Phone-free time is highly needed.
People quit making efforts and they want their phones to do everything for them. Therefore, it causes physical inactivity and long-term effects of dependence on other things.
Isn’t it scary already? Yes, it is as much as it sounds.
Another essential factor to consider when it comes to the potential risks of excessive phone use is the impact it can have on our sleep.
Don’t tell me you are not the one waking till 2 am or 3 am scrolling and compromising your sleep. Look you are the one also. Now see what you are doing to your body.
Our phones’ blue light can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls our sleep-wake cycle. This can cause difficulty falling and staying asleep, which can have negative short-term or long-term effects on our general health and well-being.
Aside from the effect on melatonin production, using our phones before bed can increase urging and encouragement, which makes it difficult to relax and fall asleep.
This can be especially problematic for people who suffer from long-term effects of anxiety or sleep disorders, as it can worsen current symptoms and make it even more difficult to get enough rest.
Your brain and system need sleep rest to refresh your whole body but you are not letting it do so.
I would like to add another side of Mobile phone and health besides the physical and mental health consequences of excessive phone use. As technology advances and our reliance on it grow, it is important to consider the long-term effects it is having on our lives and what it means for our humanity.
Besides Mobile phone and health facts, one source of concern is how phones and other digital devices can act as a distraction from the present moment. It shut our eyes to experiences and prevents us from truly engaging with the world around us.
Phones disconnect and isolate people despite it is used to connect t with them. These logical concerns are not just mental ideas; they have real-world costs for how we conduct our lives and interact with the world around us.
We are checking our phones during conversations and spending more time scrolling through social media than interacting with those around us.
What Can We Do to Lower the Risks of Mobile phone and health?
I hope after reading the above explanation, you understood the long-term effects and harm of such a choice. It is important to understand where a person needs to do work.
Our phones are an important part of our daily lives and it is a technology after all that we should be controlling, it must not be something that is controlling us. Let it be a physical relation with phones that you use and keep it aside, not the emotional one that is haunting you all the time.
Nonetheless, there are eye-opening measures we can take to reduce the risks of excessive phone use. First of all, if it is absolutely necessary to use the phone, then use it. Secondly, try to take regular phone breaks, and set limits for phone use.
We can continue to appreciate the benefits of technology without sacrificing our health by taking steps to reduce these risks with phone-free time. Everything is good in moderation and the same goes for phone use.
Don’t compromise your health for temporary and useless pleasure. It is no good in there. Mobile phone and health are related and it is wise to understand the consequences.