Rumor :Placing a mobile phone on the bedside while sleeping can indeed cause cancer.
/✗:This is a wrong statement
The radiation emitted by mobile phones is electromagnetic radiation, which is a type of non-ionizing radiation. It does not cause cancer.
Non-ionizing radiation is a type of radiation with relatively low intensity, unable to attract atoms and electrons. Ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, light, as well as electromagnetic waves and microwaves generated by household appliances, all fall into the category of non-ionizing radiation.
On the other hand, ionizing radiation is a type of radiation with high intensity, capable of attracting atoms and electrons. The radiation produced by radioactive elements, nuclear reactors, and nuclear weapons belongs to ionizing radiation.
Generally speaking, exposure to ionizing radiation greatly increases the risk of cancer and other diseases. Depending on the dose and duration, it can even cause death in the short term.
Compared to the radiation issue of mobile phones, other health problems caused by their use deserve more attention:
- Cervical spine injury
Prolonged looking down at mobile phones is a significant reason for the younger generation to suffer from cervical spondylosis. Extended periods of looking down increase the pressure on the cervical spine, leading to changes in cervical lordosis, and potentially causing cervical disc herniation and cervical instability.
- Lumbar spine injury
Many people like to play with their phones in a semi-reclined position, which can harm the lumbar spine. In a semi-reclined position, the lumbar spine lacks sufficient support, altering its natural curvature and increasing the force on the intervertebral discs, potentially inducing lumbar disc herniation over time.
- Neck wrinkles
When looking down at a mobile phone, the neck bears greater pressure than usual. The muscles in the neck grow vertically and are prone to sagging. Additionally, maintaining a hunched position compresses the neck, shortening its muscles and accelerating the aging of epidermal cells, thereby deepening wrinkles on the neck.
- Skin allergies
Some people may develop contact dermatitis from exposure to mobile phones. This is because some individuals may be allergic to metals, rubber, and other materials often found on the surfaces of many mobile phones, making them potential allergens.
Moreover, exposure to mobile phones irritates the skin. As call duration increases, the temperature of the mobile phone rises, potentially exacerbating skin problems such as acne and pimples.
- Eye damage
For children, prolonged close-up use of mobile phones keeps their eyes in a tense and strained state, without adequate rest, which can easily lead to myopia. For adults, staring at screens for long periods reduces blinking by one-third, causing more tear evaporation on the ocular surface and leading to a lack of lubrication.
Tear evaporation is one of the main causes of dry eye syndrome, which can ultimately result in permanent eye damage.
- Triggering tenosynovitis
Although tenosynovitis is generally more prevalent in middle-aged and elderly individuals, prolonged mobile phone use can also cause tenosynovitis among younger people, with symptoms including soreness and spasms in the fingers, wrists, and forearms.
