5 ways your smartphone addiction is harming you
‘Ping!’ You reach for your phone to check that notification - the 10th you’ve received this morning. How many times do you check your phone per day? Recent research shows that on average, a person checks their phone every 12 minutes, which adds up to a whopping total of 80 times a day! Worse, smartphone addiction is a very real thing – experts say that whenever we get a notification or ring, our brains get hit with a dose of dopamine and serotonin – the same chemicals associated responsible for the ‘happy high’ drug users experience! So how is this affecting your health? Read on to find out.
1) Brain imbalances
In a recent study* conducted by Pew Research Center, scientists have discovered that teenagers who are addicted to their phones are more prone to depression, anxiety, insomnia and impulsivity. Apart from the standardized smartphone/internet tests, scientists also measured chemical changes in the brain with a Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), a special kind of brain MRI. And the results were disturbing – compared to normal levels, these teens had elevated levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, a neurotransmitter in the brain that inhibits or slows down brain signals. Increased GABA can have many side effects, including drowsiness and anxiety. The good news though? With cognitive behaviour therapy, these levels could be brought back to normal.
2) Neck and spine problems
Constantly looking down into your phone can put tremendous pressure on your neck and spine, overstretching the spinal ligaments and straining the spinal discs. In fact, there has been a 60% rise in spinal problems amongst the youth – problems, which, a decade ago, used to only affect senior citizens. This means our lifestyle and the prolific use of mobile phones has a major role to play in this figurative and literal pain in the neck besetting our generation.
3) Nerve Damage
Sometimes, excessive use of smartphones can lead to long-term damage to the nerves causing occipital neuralgia – a neurological condition where the nerves running from the spinal cord to the scalp become compressed or inflamed. This causes severe headaches similar to a migraine. In addition, constantly tapping on your phones could have an adverse effect on the nerves in your hands and arms and may even cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
4) Stress
Do you have the compelling need to check your phone every time it beeps, and answer every mail/text/Whatsapp message? If so, you might be more stressed than you know; and you’re not alone. Recent studies show how smartphone usage is increasing stress levels among people; some users even feel phantom vibrations, thinking their phone is buzzing when it isn’t. You keep getting work messages at odd times of the day, you’re always ‘on’ in a state of hyper-alertness, your heart rate and blood pressure are elevated, as are your anxiety and stress levels. This is definitely not good news for you or your body, especially in the long run.
5) Poor sleep
It’s common knowledge now that the bright blue light emanating from our screens suppresses melatonin – the hormone that helps with regulating our sleep. And if we don’t sleep well, we’re exposing our body to a host of illnesses, from the common cold to cancer. Worse, a recent study* has shown how the amount of caffeine in a double expresso has less of an effect on sleep schedule, than bright light exposure!
So, our suggestion for this weekend? Switch off from stress, anxiety and poor sleep, by switching off your cell phone for the evening. If you’re able to do this, you can get rid of your addiction by taking other small steps!
Star Imaging is a reputed diagnostic centre, with 12 super-specialized radiologists and the world’s most advanced technology, including 3T MRI scanners with ambient experience (with MR Spectroscopy capabilities), 128 slice CT scanners, a 3D digital mammography machine and more. Star Imaging is also Pune’s leading Second Opinion clinic. For more information, feel free to reach out to us on 020 4132 2222 / 4122 2222.
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