5 Physical effects of mobile phone addiction

In its latest report, Jumia reported that Kenya has the highest mobile phone penetration at 91 percent compared to Africa’s 81 percent. More than 40 million people have access to the internet with the Kenyan youth spending averagely three hours a day on social media. The time spend on texting has not been accounted for but could run for hours due to frequent chatting courtesy of cheap SMS subscriptions by local telcos.

The overuse, of smart phones can cause physical health problems. If not addressed the image can be permanent or difficult to treat.

Our writer sampled the physical health effects the overuse of mobile phones can cause.

Neck Problems

Naturally, when using our mobile phones, we tend to bend the neck. Bending the neck for a long period of time results to a pain neck dubbed as ‘text neck.’ The poor posture of the neck can further lead to shoulder pain or chronic headaches. This is because bending the neck in this posture causes about 27 kilogram more of the weight pressure the upper spine.

Eye strain

Medically referred to as digital eye strain, it is the pain and discomfort related with viewing a digital screen for over 120 minutes. The eyes being to burn and itch then having blurred vision. The eyes become fatigue causing eye strain that result to unending headaches.

[ Read:Mobile subscribtions rise to 49.5 million in Q2 2018/19 ]

Increased illnesses

Studies have revealed that a mobile phone is the most dirtiest item in the world. They carry more germs than toilets with 1in 6mobile phones having fecal matter on it.

Interestingly, some people prefer holding their phones with their mouth than putting them on a surface while tying shoe laces or putting on a jacket.

A cell phone carries E. Coil bacteria that causes fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. They also have Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body.

Male Infertility

The vibration produced by the phone with a call or notification can cause low sperm count on the male reproductive system. The closer the phone it is to the body the more harmful toxic element in the facility react negatively towards it. This is due to certain invisible elements embedded in the mobile antenna which in most cases, are in-built which are harmful to the human body. Long-term cell users demonstrates symptoms of fatigue, nausea and a reduction in the quality and magnitude of their spermatozoa.

[ See also:Simple ways to beat social media addiction ]

Car accidents

They way drinking and driving is dangerous on the road so is the use of cell phones while driving. Many people believe that they can multitask and use their phones while driving, but this causes significant impairment and puts the driver and others on the road in danger.