6 The neck. This problem affects teenagers. Staying bent forward is terrible in times of total growth and causes neck pain associated with neck strains or contractures. The disorder, called Tex neck, is due to the wrong posture that the neck adopts by the cell phone’s constant use.
7 The fingers. Undoubtedly, the movement of the fingers on the mobile keyboard causes tendinitis. Repeating the same gesture or movement constantly for hours is unsuitable for our fingers. The “carpal tunnel syndrome” is the most common disease caused by excessive cell phones and extreme pressure on one of the nerves of the wrist, which impacts the sensitivity and movement in various parts of the hand—symptoms: numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and fingers.
8 Poor posture. The cell phone is synonymous with bad posture, which generates pain in the muscles, neck, shoulders, and lumbar region: musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). Typing many messages causes pain in the tendons, wrist, and hand.
9 Weight and obesity. In front of a screen, consuming products whose nutritional quality is questionable, such as sweets, cakes, and salty snacks, is increasingly widespread. The screen blocks the feeling of satiety, and the number of calories ingested becomes much higher than the necessary intake.
10 Exercise. It is necessary to perform 30 minutes of activities daily, with an outing every two hours in front of a screen. Exercises such as walking or cycling in the gym are too recommended. According to the WHO, recent cases of obesity in children and adolescents have increased due to a lack of physical activity due to cell phones. One third of adolescents aged 13 to 15 are overweight and therefore at risk of cardiovascular disease.
Are you a cell phone addict? The answers to five (5) questions will determine if you are potentially addicted to cell phone use.
1 Do you check your cell phone first thing in the morning? 2 Do you check your cell phone last thing in the evening? 3 Do you need to check immediately every time your cell phone tells you that a WhatsApp message or an update on your social networks has arrived? 4 Do you feel you cannot leave your home without your mobile and feel afraid to be without it? 5 Do you have the impression that your mobile vibrates or rings when it does not?
If all answers are positive, you have compulsive behavior for using your ‘cell phone.’
ENCYCLOPEDIA. Radiation and Health.
