5 health reasons to take a break from your cell-phone



There is no denying that smartphones have made our lives convenient.

We can get in touch with a person sitting in the other corner of the world just with the touch of a button and get any kind of information from the internet within seconds.

Another reality is that cell phones have also put us at the risk of developing some serious health ailments.

Scrolling on cell phones for a prolonged period can lead to text neck and dry eyes. The damage is not only limited to your physical well-being.

Consuming too much information online can increase stress levels and insecurities. Here are five valid reasons to take a break from it.

1. ​It damages your eyes

Human eyes are quite delicate and the blue screen of the cell phone can easily damage if not used in the limitation. The cell phone screen can lead to photoreceptor damage, headaches, blurred vision and even dry eyes. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, chances are that your cellphone is responsible for them. Give a break to your eyes, focus on something kept at 20 m distance from you and regularly get an eye-check to minimise the damage.

2. ​It can lead to carpal tunnel and selfie wrist

If you use your smartphone for 5-6 hours a day, you might suffer from these conditions in future. Studies suggest both carpal tunnel and selfie wrist are a growing problem among teenagers. These syndromes can lead to problems like wrist pain, numbness, tingling sensation and pins and needles. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, meet your doctor and cut down your screen time. Back pain and neck pain are two problems associated with excessive cellphone usage.

3. ​It may cause skin breakouts

There are several studies available online that suggest that cellphones are home to varied kinds of germs and bacteria. These pathogens can be transferred to your skin and lead to skin and other health issues. When you hold the phone close to your ears or cheek the germs are transferred to your skin and can lead to skin blemishes and acne breakouts. Even premature ageing is a sign of excessive cellphone usage. To reduce the risk, clean your phone regularly with alcohol wipes.

4. ​It can disrupt your sleeping pattern

For your body to function normally and in a healthy way, you need to get 7-8 hours of sleep regularly. But due to excessive cell phone usage late at night, many people are facing the problem of sleeplessness. Either they doze off while looking at their cell phone screen or they keep tossing and turning way past their bedtime. An irregular sleeping pattern makes you cranky, moody and even leads to overeating.

5. ​It can make you feel stressed

There are two ways cell phones make you feel more stressed. First due to sleeplessness and secondly due to excessive consumption of information from the internet. Whether you are scrolling your social media handle or the internet, both can make you feel overwhelmed over time and increase the cortisol level. Cell Phone addiction can also lead to anxiety, depression, and impulsivity.

The bottom line

It is certainly not easy to avoid looking at your cell phones throughout the day. So, make some ground rules that would help to cut down your screen time like:

  • Do not see your phone while eating
  • Do not reach out for your phone first thing in the morning
  • Do not scroll your social media handle before going to bed
  • Stop using cell phones at least 3 hours before bedtime

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