Your cell phone is trying to kill you: 9 health risks you need to know about

Date July 7, 2016

We’re all trying to live a healthy lifestyle (working out, eating well, getting enough sleep, etc) but it turns out that our efforts are futile, because our cell phones will eventually kill us all. Maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but judging by the overwhelming number of studies coming out that support that theory, it’s not that far off.

A few months ago, we wrote about HEV (High Energy Visible) light transmitted by cell phone and computer screens, that are basically ruining our skin and creating damage similar to UVA and UVB rays. Brands are even making primer that protects from HEV light, and apparently “studies suggest that HEV light produces the same amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as UVA and UVB rays combined.” SMH.

If you thought that was bad…you should probably sit down for the rest of this article.

Browse the gallery below to learn every single way your cell phone is trying to kill you, from joint problems to temporary blindness (?!?!).

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Temporary blindness

Relax, you won’t acutally be blind forever, but doctors have found that looking at a phone screen in the dark with only one eye open can cause temporary blindness. Scary, right? Might be reason enough to stop scrolling through Instagram right before bed.

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Crow’s feet from squinting

No one want’s premature wrinkles, but according to dermatologists people are getting crow’s feet (wrinkles around your eyes) at earlier stages in life because they’re squinting at their cell phones. The solution? Increase your screen’s font size and brightness.

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Selfie elbow

It may sound like a joke, but it’s something serious selfie takers should be aware of. According to physicians, selfie elbow is a result of elbow overuse. But hey, at least now you have a valid reason for investing in a selfie stick!

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Text neck

Researchers have found that poor neck posture, also known as text neck, occurs when people strain their neck to stare at a screen. Be careful, because studies suggest that this wear-and-tear can cause spine degeneration that may require corrective surgery.

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Radiation causing brain cancer

This one is totally scary and also the reason we’ve agreed to limit our cell phone use. According to studies, radiation emitted from cell phones can cause brain cancer.

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Texting thumb

While we know how important it is to stay connected, repetitive strain and overuse can result in texting thumb, which is a pain or numbness in the base of a thumb. That’s why it’s so important to know your body’s limits and text within them.

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Loss of sleep

Doctor’s suggest that the blue light triggered by text messages and notifications on cell phones can mess with your melatonin levels, which then messes with your sleep. Not only are people cranky when they lose sleep, but loss of sleep can also lead to weight gain. Ugh, not cool, cell phones.

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Cell phone dermatitis and acne

When you wear makeup and then hold your phone against your face, oil transfers which can cause cell phone dermatitis and acne. Cleaning your screen with antibacterial wipes can help save your cheeks and temples from unwanted blemishes.

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Mouth wrinkles from duck face

Lip puckering and dynamic facial motions during photos, also known as duck face, can cause mouth wrinkles and up the aging process, according to some dermatologists. Yikes.