Over the decades that cell phones have been gaining such widespread popularity, minor side effects of cell phone use, such as headache, sleep disturbance, lack of concentration, impairment of short-term memory, dizziness, tinnitus, fatigue, and benign warming of the ear have been reported. Headache is common pain syndrome that has reportedly been increasing with more widespread cell phone usage.
In a report filed on the U.S. National Library of Medicine, a study was done to determine if cell phone use could indeed cause headaches. Headaches have been loosely tied to excessive cell phone use in the past, but studies have been producing conflicting results. This can be likely be explained by small study populations that were not of sufficient power to indicate benefit or harm. Thus, to gain a better understanding of the relationship between cell phone use and headache, the study was performed using a quantitative meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies in order to more accurately appraise the association between cell phone use and headache.
The studies investigating the association between cell phone use and headache were then thoroughly evaluated. A total of 2,699 articles were identified and assessed. The results of the meta-analysis and many previous studies supported current clinical opinion that cell phone use may cause increased risk for headaches. Therefore, the study said, it is advisable to admit that the use of cell phones is a risk factor for headache.
Report Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5626766/
RF Safe article on Cell Phones and Headaches:
https://www.rfsafe.com/smartphone-causing-headache-cell-phone-radiation-induced-headaches/
Oh my, headaches from cell phone use? Who would have thought! this report definitely caught my attention. It’s interesting to see the conflicting results from previous studies, but it seems that this meta-analysis provides a more accurate appraisal of the association between cell phone use and headaches.
I wonder if the type of phone or the intensity of usage plays a role in the increased risk for headaches. I can’t deny that staring at a screen for hours on end can be quite exhausting. And don’t even get me started on the constant notifications and pings that can make my head feel like it’s about to explode!
On a serious note though, it’s important to acknowledge the potential risks associated with cell phone use and take steps to minimize them. Whether it’s using a hands-free device, taking breaks from screen time, or simply putting the phone away when it’s not needed, we can all make small changes to protect our health.
In the meantime, I’ll keep an extra bottle of Advil in my purse, just in case!