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Cell Phone Side Effects

Cell phones are useful pieces of technology to have nowadays, and they can keep you connected with friends, family, and business contacts more easily. While they may make life a little more convenient, however, they do carry with them some risks and side effects. Although researchers are still trying to determine the side effects of cell phones, you should be aware of the actual and potential dangers involved in using them.

  1. Skin Problems

    • Use your cell phone's speaker function or hold the phone a little bit away from your face when you speak on it. Using a cell phone on a regular basis can affect your skin by causing acne break outs. You may see this on one or both sides of your face, depending on which side you use to talk on the phone. This side effect can occur because of the oils and germs that build up on your cell phone and the friction between your phone and face, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Driving Dangers

    • Avoid cell phone use in the car, or even using a hands-free headset, to avoid risky driving behavior. A significant effect of cell phone use is the increased likelihood of having accidents in the car. Many states now have laws that prevent cell phone use while driving, but many people still choose to do so. If you use your cell phone while driving, you are putting yourself and others at risk, as this practice has been shown to be a major distraction. An article published in the The New York Times in July 2009 presented an effective interactive game that can measure reaction time and showcase the dangers of using your cell phone while driving (see Resources).

    Cancer Risks

    • Lower the possible risk of cancer by using hand-held devices, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends. One possible side effect of cell phone use may be an increased risk of brain cancer. Cell phones emit radio frequency waves, which can heat up tissues in the body. While the frequency of the waves from cell phones is low, researchers are still trying to determine if exposure to them, such as through regular or excessive cell phone use, can contribute to the emergence of brain tumors.

    Medical Devices

    • Avoid keeping your phone near to internal medical devices, such as in your coat pocket or clipped to the collar. Another possible side effect that is being studied is a cell phone's effects on such devices as pacemakers. While there has been no factual proof that cell phone waves can interfere with these devices, research is ongoing, and the ACS suggests that if you do have something like a pacemaker, you should keep cell phones some distance away.

    Addictive Effects

    • One possible psychological side effect that has been discussed is cell phone addiction. In this case, a person becomes addicted to the technology and to constantly being connected via cell phone. While there is no concrete evidence of cell phone addiction, a study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information website does indicate that people can overuse their cell phones and other types of technology.

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