Can Cell Phones Give You A Headache?
The wonders of technology give us many useful items including the cell phone. The cell phone is the one item that most people feel they cannot do without. Some are using it as their primary phone line and makes keeping in touch easier. Cell phones may be a lifesaver in case of an emergency.
Cell phones work by relaying low levels of radio waves from their antennas to a nearby base tower. A cell phone emits a microwave signal that is the longest wave of the electromagnetic spectrum. The electromagnetic fields emitted by cell phones were thought to be harmless until recently.
Cell phone users report they experience headaches after using their cell phones. Most people use their cell phones several times a day, so what is the result of the electromagnetic waves going to your brain? Studies show these waves do change your brain's activity level. The question is; is it harmful to you?
A blind study was conducted with participants wearing a specially designed helmet that had a cell phone near the left ear. The helmet was designed to record brain activity while the person was wearing it. The cell phone signals were turned on for the same period of time that a person is normally on their cell phone. The brain waves were measured while the cell phone was on and while it was off. The participants were unaware of when the cell phone signals were turned on or off.
When the phones were on, the researchers found increased activity in the cortical area of the left side of the brain. This portion of the brain is responsible for language and for movement. The increased activity in the brain continued for up to one hour after the cell phone was turned off. The study did not decide whether this was harmful to the wearer.
Doctors use electromagnetic fields to treat neurological disorders, migraines, and depression. Electromagnetic fields also increase the number of seizures a person with epilepsy may experience. So, is it dangerous or not? Scientists believe the radiation emitted by a small cell phone is not a danger to the users.
If you get a headache every time you use your cell phone, look for another cause. Many of us prop our cell phone on our shoulder while talking and doing other activities. Could your headache be caused by the way use your cell phone? Why not try a hands free device for a while. Not only will it free your hands so you can multitask, but it will eliminate the crook in your neck that you get while trying to hold your cell phone to your ear. The heat from the battery in your cell phone may also cause headache and pain, that is another reason to try a hands free device. If you still have headaches after you use your cell phone, you may want to explore other causes.
It has not been proven that cell phones give headaches or are harmful to your health. Until further studies can be done, you should use your cell phone without worrying about electromagnetic waves.
