A few weeks ago, we finished writing our research papers for my language class. For my paper, I wrote about the effect cell phones have on our health. What I found was scary; I didn’t realize there were so many different health concerns with using your phone.

A possible health concern I found was using your cell phone could lead to cancer or hearing damage. I knew about the hearing damage, that’s pretty much self explanatory, but cancer? I had no idea about this. According to www.besthealthmag.ca, long term use of a cell phone could lead to slow-growing brain tumors and ear-nerve cancer. This hasn’t been proven yet, but researchers believe it to be true, and are trying to prove cell phones cause brain tumors and lead to cancer.

One of the proven health concerns I came across during my research was cell phones lead to Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. Before I read about this syndrome, I’d never heard of it and I figured it wasn’t really a big deal. After I read about it, I realized I was wrong. Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is caused by a compression of the ulna nerve. You get it when your elbow is forced into an unnatural position while talking on your cell phone for prolonged periods. Anyone who has this syndrome feels a tingling or numbness in their hands and pain in their arms. Numbness in the hands and pain in the arms don't seem like something I'd want to go through; I'll probably be using speakerphone for my lengthy phone conversations from now on.

Not only does talking on your cell phone pose health threats, so does text messaging, more commonly known as texting. Texting can cause pain in your hands, arms, or neck.

Texting, along with talking on your phone while driving, can increase your chances of getting into a car accident. Recently in Missouri, a law saying people 21 and younger cannot text while driving was passed. The law only prohibits those 21 and younger from texting while driving; people over 21 are still in danger. Your chances of getting into a car accident are increased because texting, or talking on your phone, distracts you while you drive. Experts say your risk of collision becomes four times greater, and surprisingly your reaction time is impaired more than alcohol would at the legal level, from texting while driving.

Although I have yet to jump on to the texting bandwagon, almost everyone I know texts. According to a survey by Access Systems Americas, 73% of people said text messaging was a must-have feature. Ironically only 0.5% said the cell phone battery life was a must-have feature. Without the battery, the cell phone is not exactly what I would call useful.

Some other interesting statistics I found were in 2005 a University of Michigan study found 83% of people said cell phones have made their life easier. Another survey found 59% of people wouldn't think of lending their cell phone to a friend for a day.  Clearly we are dependent at best...and addicted at worst.

I agree using cell phones provide convenience, but using them all the time is not a good thing. They can be dangerous to your health by posing various threats. Instead of using it compulsively, try not to use your cell phone as much; it could just save your life.