When we’re away from our mobile phones for too long, it can feel as though we’ve lost a limb. One study found that cellphone users spend on average 145 minutes engaged over an average 76 separate sessions per day. This addiction is exactly what prompted health officials to issue warnings about keeping them close at night.

The California Department of Public Health released new information about the risk of radiation from our mobile devices and how we can reduce it.

Dr. Karen Smith of the Californian Department of Public Health (CDHP) advise, “When you sleep, keep the cellphone at least arm’s length away from your body. (Also, don’t carry your cellphone in your pocket, [have] it either in your purse or [don’t carry] it with you.”

Past studies have linked cellphone usage with an increased risk of brain tumors, low sperm count, headaches, and impaired hearing and sleep. Officials also warn that “long-term high use may impact human health.”

The new CDHP guidelines include these steps for children and adults to help reduce exposure to radio frequency energy from cell phones:

  • Keeping the phone away from the body
  • Reducing cell phone use when the signal is weak
  • Reducing the use of cell phones to stream audio or video, or to download or upload large files
  • Keeping the phone away from the bed at night
  • Removing headsets when not on a call
  • Avoiding products that claim to block radio frequency energy. These products may actually increase your exposure

The CDC’s position is that there are not yet any conclusive scientific findings that provide definitive conclusions to whether cellphone radiation causes cancer and other negative health effects.

Either way, if you’re one of the 95 percent of Americans that own a cellphone, I think we can all agree that 2018 is the year we could all benefit from some digital detoxing — especially when we’re supposed to be getting quality shut-eye.

Also see, Proper dinner party etiquette tips for our high-tech times


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Meghan is a full-time writer exploring the fun facts behind food. She lives a healthy lifestyle but lives for breakfast, dessert and anything with marinara. She’s thrown away just as many meals as she’s proud of.