How your smartphone can lead to serious health problems

Technological advancements have made our lives much easier, and smartphones are a perfect example of this. Nowadays, we can perform numerous tasks virtually and, as a result, we've grown ever more dependent on our phones. Not only do we rely on them to keep on top of what's going on around the world and communicate with people, but many of us have also developed a human-like bond with our phones.

With such a positive impact in our lives, it's easy to overlook the harmful effects of overusing smartphones. From being exposed to radiation and bacteria, to the effects on our mental health, overuse of cell phones and smartphones can indeed lead to serious health problems.

Click through the gallery and see if you've experienced any of the symptoms.

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Insomnia - Do you struggle to fall asleep at night? Do you go to bed and all of a sudden feel more awake instead of relaxing and falling asleep? This may be a consequence of overusing your cell phone.

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Insomnia - Spending a lot of time in front of your phone screen exposes you to a particular type of light emitted by the device. This light activates the production of hormones that affect your biological clock.

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Insomnia - To avoid this, you should put your phone down earlier before going to bed and let your body relax for a while. This will make it easier for you to fall asleep when you try to go to sleep.

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Bacteria spread - Are you one of those people who can't put the phone away even when you go to the bathroom? Well, we have bad news for you.

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Bacteria spread - Using your phone in environments such as toilets or hospitals, for example, can help spread bacteria to other places you go.

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Bacteria spread - So try to put your phone away in places like these. It also helps if you clean your device. Remember that you touch the phone with your hands, so hygiene is important.

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Cancer risk - According to the CNN, the World Health Organization warned of cancer risk associated with overuse of cell phones.

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Cancer risk - According to the study, the radiation emitted by cell phones may contribute to the onset of the disease. Beware not to overuse your phone and also avoid sleeping with it very close to you.

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Risk of hypertension -

According to studies by the American Society of Hypertension, published on Medical Daily, using a cell phone to make calls can raise blood pressure.

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Risk of hypertension - This was the result of a study conducted with approximately 94 patients who were being medicated for hypertension.

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Risk of hypertension - The results showed that when patients answered calls, their blood pressure increased.

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Lack of concentration - Do you find it hard to concentrate at work or school, even when performing simple tasks? Well, your cell phone may have something to do with it.

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Lack of concentration - According to a study published in The Guardian, every time a person takes a break from an activity to send a message or make a call, it takes about 25 minutes for the person go back to the same level of focus on the original activity.

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Lack of concentration -

The answer to this problem lies in good time management. Wait until you have a scheduled break to check your messages and do whatever you need to do. This way, you will be more relaxed and avoid wasting time losing concentration and regaining it while you're working or studying.

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Stress - Are you feeling more stressed than ever? Do trivial things sometimes annoy you? Guess who the perpetrator might be. That's right, your phone may be the source of your high stress levels.

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Stress - According to the The Guardian, the overuse of cell phones can contribute to anxiety and impatience.

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Stress - The study found that 60% of the young people surveyed reported feeling agitated when they went too much time without accessing their phones.

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Nomophobia - More severe cases of withdrawal are called nomophobia, which is the complete dependence on virtual life, according to a study published in Scientific American.

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FOMO - FOMO is an acronym for "fear of missing out," a disorder that is characterized by the fear of being left out of what is happening elsewhere.

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FOMO - It's easy to understand how the use of social media contributes to this.

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FOMO - The need to know everything that is happening to everyone at all times puts you at risk of living a strictly virtual life, ignoring things that are happening in real life. It's best not to let technology totally dominate you.

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Hearing loss - Healthy Hearing has published a study showing that the use of cell phones can actually cause hearing loss.

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Hearing loss - According to the study, one of the reasons is the use of headphones to listen to music constantly, particularly at very high volumes.

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Hearing loss - The study also shows that in addition to this, the electromagnetic waves emitted by the handsets during a call, for example, can also cause hearing impairment.

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Neck and spine problems - Now let's talk about a problem that may be a consequence of excessive phone use, although it is not directly caused by it.

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Neck and spine problems - Your body posture when you are texting someone, for example, can trigger pain episodes and even cause more serious problems in your spine and neck.

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Increase in procrastination - Those who already procrastinate at work and in daily life can suffer from it even more due to phone overuse.

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Increase in procrastination - According to a study published in The Guardian, 75% of American students said they were procrastinators. What they were doing when they should have been completing important tasks? Using their phones, of course.

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Depression - Being constantly on the phone can have a negative impact on mental health, a study by the University of Gothenburg shows.

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Depression - A study has found a link between heavy cell phone usage and poor academic performance, mental health, and happiness levels in college students.

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Allergies - Handling a phone all the time can lead to a number of allergic reactions, from rashes to dermatitis. This is mostly due to the metals found in some phones.

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Allergies - A study has found a link between the nickel and cobalt present in a number of phones and allergic reactions, such as contact dermatitis.

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It's bad for sperm - Heavy cell phone usage can have a negative impact on male fertility, so gents, keep your phone away from your pants pocket.

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It's bad for sperm - A study has concluded that the use of cell phones had a negative impact in a number of parameters, including decreased sperm count, motility,
and others.

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You're at risk of growing a brain tumor - An Italian man, who reportedly used a cell phone over six hours a day for twelve years at work, sued his employer after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

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You're at risk of growing a brain tumor - He won the case after compelling research linking the use of mobile phones to brain tumors was presented in court.

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You might become anti-social - Heavy smartphone use can lead to anti-social behavior. Younger generations, in particular, are at higher risk of losing social skills as a result.

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You might become anti-social - People feel they're connected—albeit virtually—and don't feel the need to do so in person.

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Phantom vibration/ringing syndrome - Have you ever felt like your phone was vibrating or ringing, when in fact it wasn't? Well, you're not alone.

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Phantom vibration/ringing syndrome - This goes to show how obsessed we can get with our phones and how much it affects our brains. After all, your phone can actually make you hallucinate.

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Tendons and joints inflamation - Constantly using your phone can trigger inflammation in a number of tendons and joints in your fingers, wrists, and elbows.

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It might make you gain weight - If you use your phone while you're eating, it might affect how much you eat. Research has found that people tend to overeat when they're distracted during their meals.

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Use, don't abuse -

Remember that too much of anything is bad for you, and consciously limiting when you use your phone is good for both your body and your mind.

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How your smartphone can lead to serious health problems -

Paying bills, arranging dinner with friends, or finding love—all things that are just one click away.