Negative effects of overusing mobile phone

As well as the development of smartphone, mobile phone no longer restricted to the use of calling others, but taking photos, surfing the net, playing mobile games. There are varieties kinds of apps that contain entertainment and even medical information. Mobile health, a term used for the practice of medicine and public health supported by mobile devices benefit us a lot. However, these appealing apps also make more and more people are having the problem of addiction to phone. It is so common that experts have given it a name: "Nomophobia"(no-mobile-phone-phobia). According to a recent survey, found that 84 percent of the world's population said they could not go one day without their phones, and current research shows that nearly two-thirds of teens and young adults check their phones every 15 minutes or less. ( FITNESS Magazine) And this essay I would focus on how overusing mobile phone have negative influence on our health.




We can always see people using their phone whatever they are doing. During the transport time, eating time, even when we go to sleep, we need to make sure that the phone is next to us, maybe as a alarm clock. However, this tool that we can’t lack may also bring harms to our health, here’s are some examples.


Eye damage
Addicted to smartphones may increase their risk of eye damage. As while we use the phone, we are closer to the monitor than we normally look at objects, it would strain our eyes. Also, when we are focusing on using a phone, we would blink less than usual which provide not enough tears keep our eyes moist.

Furthermore, when using the smart phone, the monitor would peak out blue violet light which is harmful to our eyes. Optician Andy Hepworth said” Blue violet light is potentially hazardous and toxic to the back of your eyes.” it is potential to put us at greater risk of macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.(BBC News)




Neck Pain
Using the phone excessively can lead to text neck-- a term CNN health coined for the aches we may feel in our shoulders neck and head. to correct it. When we are using the phone, we have to keep the head down to stare at our phone. The posture would increase the pressure on the neck a lot more than a facing forward position. Regarding to Dr Kenneth Hansraj, he says that our heads weigh between 10lb and 12lb normally. But when we angle them down to look at our phones, the effective weight on our necks increases – at a 15-degree angle it is about 27lb rising to 60lb at 60 degrees. If we drop our chin on to our chest for a long period, it causes head pain, neck pain, arm pain and numbness.(Homa Khaleeli)


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Anxiety and depression
Daily overuse of mobile phone may make people more prone to anxiety, depression and other psychological disorders either. As smartphones have given us the ability to be immediately connected to answer calls, emails, texts, and social media updates. ( Addictiontreatment )Users may not be able to resist the urge to respond everything right away and constantly worry about missing out any message because it is the way they connect with others. worry about missing out on a text or Facebook update because it is the way they connect with other. This kind of unnecessary stress is also an obvious sign of Nomophobia.



Apart from the destructive health problems that overusing mobile phones may cause, Scientists also report that using the phone may change brain activity, reaction times, and sleep patterns. These effects are minor and have no apparent health significance. But it does are not good for our health. When we sleep next to the phone, it would release the effect that makes us 'hypervigilant' and disturb our sleep and we end up not getting enough of the restorative sleep we need. It might also trigger insomnia and other sleeping problems. More controversially, there are suggestions that sleeping with your mobile by your bed may cause dizziness and headaches.(JENNIE AGG)


Having a smart phone does benefit us a lot. As one of the people that can’t live a day without a phone and have the problem of text neck. Suffering from the pain of neck and shoulder all the time, I would feel tired easily and it definitely can ruin your day. So, if you don’t have any of this health problem but you are also addicted to your phone, I feel lucky for you and here’s the kind reminder: Stay healthy and don’t overuse your smartphone!




Reference
5 Shocking Ways Your Cell Phone is Hurting Your Health
FITNESS Magazine Healthy Living 10 Jan, 2013
https://ca.shine.yahoo.com/blogs/healthy-living/5-shocking-ways-cell-phone-hurting-health-172900717.html

Smartphone overuse may 'damage' eyes, say opticians
BBC News 28 Mar, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/26780069


Text neck: How smartphones are damaging our spines
Homa Khaleeli, 24 Nov, 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2014/nov/24/text-neck-how-smartphones-damaging-our-spines


5 Signs Your Teen Is Addicted to the Smartphone
addictiontreatment in Top Feature, 30 May, 2013
http://www.addictiontreatmentmagazine.com/top-feature/5-signs-your-teen-is-addicted-to-the-smartphone/


Why you should NEVER keep your mobile in your bedroom
JENNIE AGG FOR THE DAILY MAIL, 11 Mar, 2014
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2577824/Why-NEVER-mobile-bedroom.html