It's probably a good idea to practice come cell phone caution in light of studies linking cells and cancer. But Real Age says cell phones are not all bad -- they might even help you get skinny.

Use your cell to chat with a weight loss buddy and you might stick with your diet better. Just keep your conversation supportive and you'll benefit. Of course, talking in person is best -- no cancer risk here -- and if you have a land line, go this route. If these are not options for you, well, then, the cell will do.

In one study, overweight folks who had lost 18 pounds each through a weight loss program were followed to see how long they could keep their pounds off. Those who spent time each month talking on the phone with an inspirational friend scored best. It's not the phone itself that does the trick. It's the positive human reinforcement that helps you resist daily temptations. It's just that we're all so connected by cells these days -- it's how most of us communicate. So dial away. And be careful at the same time.

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This morning I had to talk to my son about his latest little escapade -- putting a huge wad of gum down the garbage disposal. I spent a good half hour risking limbs while cleaning up that mess. Yet when I talked to him about it, he barely seemed to listen much less apologize sincerely. I finally had to request an apology -- and the one I got was insincere. (Grr.) As a punishment, he has to do extra chores to "make up the time" that I spent fixing the disposal. He wasn't phased by that at all.

So I know how it feels when you try to discipline your child and you know that you're not getting through. Rachel over at ParentDish has written about extreme measures parents have taken to get through to their kids. Recently, a Spanish couple has taken their own extreme measure -- they had their kids admitted to a mental health institution to be treated for their addiction to their cell phones.

The kids, ages 12 and 13, were having a hard time in school and completing other activities because of their phones. In addition, they were lying to relatives in order to get money to spend on their phones. They had had their phones for 18 months. Before recognizing that it had become a problem, their parents hadn't restricted their cell phone use.

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There's something about cell phones that make medical alarm bells ring. Do you remember the reports of cell phones causing cancer? How about the dangers of exploding cell phone batteries? Now there's a new risk factor -- researchers are saying that cell phone usage during pregnancy can cause hyperactivity and emotional or behavioral issues in children.

Over 13,000 mothers in Denmark were surveyed -- some didn't use a cell phone at all, others used one sporadically, and a third group used their cells often during pregnancy. Their results indicate that using a cell phone as little as two to three times a day during pregnancy can cause health issues -- hyperactivity, conduct issues, emotional issues, or difficult with relationships -- for the children. What's more, if the children used cell phones themselves before age 7 they were 80% more likely to have behavioral issues.

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A renowned neurosurgeon and cancer expert recently made strong statements against cell phones, warning that regular use could double a person's risk of developing brain cancer. Though studies have refuted the claim that radiation from cell phones can be damaging, Dr. Vini Kurana says that that research did not take into consideration that most cancers take 10 years to develop and were too short-sighted.

Dr. Kurana went as far to say that cell phones could be more dangerous than smoking or asbestos and called on government officials to regulate their use. That's a pretty radical statement -- more dangerous than smoking? I'm doubtful that one man's research will change the habits of millions of cell phone users around the world, but still...I'd like to hear more. What do you think?

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The world today is full of all kinds of health and beauty hurdles like stressful schedules, unhealthy eating habits, and...cell phones?

Studies have shown that your cell phone may be the cause of some of your skin and complexion problems, including everything from breakouts to premature aging and wrinkles. In addition to having bacterial build-up that can cause breakouts when the phone is held up close to the skin, Artificial Electromagnetic Waves (or AEWs) emanate from the phone and could be speeding up the aging of your face by causing cellular damage and premature wrinkles.

The whole idea of cell phones and how they do or don't damage our health is constantly up for debate, so I'm not sure if I believe this or not (although it does make sense). What do you think?

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The debate continues over whether or not cell phone use can lead to cancer, with evidence emerging in support of both sides of the argument. But, there is another risk of cell phone use that you may not have HEARD about.

Researchers in India discovered that people who use cell phones for sixty or more minutes per day over a yearlong period exhibited early signs of hearing loss.

Some speculate whether damage can be done to your inner ear by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell phones, while others believe the effects on hearing are related to the high volume setting at which most cell phones are kept. And others still, such as Dr. Chester Griffiths, feel that the validity of these findings are too preliminary to warrant alarm.

It seems to me that a new cell phone debate has emerged.

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Do you fight the itch to chat on your cell phone while driving? Considering how connected we are these days, it can be difficult to put down the cell phone and consistently wrap both hands around the steering wheel. I try to avoid using a cell phone in heavy traffic, but sometimes the phone rings or I impulsively make a call. When dialing on the freeway, I'm the first to head over to the right lane and slow down -- a "safety move" intended to justify the call. I rarely pass anyone and just stay right.

Turns out I might want to think twice about that rationalization. A new study reveals motorists yacking away on cell phones slow everybody's commute. They drive slower, make less lane changes to pass and take longer to get to their destination. Just two or three guilty parties can trigger freeway congestion and subsequent delays for all. Let alone statistics suggest motorists on cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in an accident.

This news will make me think twice next time I reach for the phone in traffic. Now that open stretch of desolate highway in Big Sky Montana ... that's a different story.

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It's become so common there's actually an acronym for it! Driving while texting, or "DWT," is becoming such as issue across the nation that not only are many state governments looking at passing laws to regulate (or ban altogether) using cell phones and other devices to send text messages while driving but insurance agencies are also getting in on it -- they could actually look at your phone records and refuse to pay a claim if they see that you were texting at the time of an accident.

What do you think, fair or not fair? I say fair. I'm guilty of popping out a few texts while sitting at stoplights, but that doesn't mean I think it's right. Truth is that when we text message while behind the wheel we're not paying as close attention to the road -- and that endangers everybody.

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Autism is a condition that has skyrocketed in children in recent years, and it's baffled researchers ever since. What's the cause? More importantly, how do we prevent it? Recent studies are pointing the finger at a widely-used technology: the cell phone. Well, not just cell phones -- cell towers, Wi-Fi and other mobile devices.

The key component of wireless devices that is thought to affect autism is the EMR (electromagnetic radiation) they transmit. Recent research has shown that it can negatively affect cell membranes, and this can cause heavy metal toxins to build up in the body. So, it's thought that these heavy metal toxins can get trapped inside nerve cells, which can lead to Autism. For more info, click here.

Cell phones have been linked to several health problems in the past. What do you think -- is it a case of hyperactive worry or are they really ruining our health?

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Surgery is scary enough here in the U.S. where we have high-tech operating rooms with back-up generators and all kinds of systems in place to ensure that nothing will go wrong, but not all countries are so lucky. A man in Argentina recently got to experience first-hand a "worst case scenerio" surgery when the power and lights went out in the middle of his emergency appendectomy operation. There was a backup generator, but it wasn't working properly, and so a quick thinking (and creative!) family member ended up collecting several cell phones together and using those to provide enough light for the surgeons to finish up the procedure. And the patient, 29 year old Leonardo Molina, came through it just fine.

One more way that cell phones can help in an emergency!


Via Engadget

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Here's a wake-up call: your cell phone just may be dirtier than your toilet. And although I don't think many of us are surprised to hear that cold and flu viruses are commonly found on cell phones, what about staphylococcus aureus and MRSA? Catching a cold may be inconvenient, but staph and MRSA are heavy duty germs that can pose significant health risks if you become infected.

It's recommended to regularly wipe your phone down with a disinfectant wipe or cloth, and share as little as possible, to reduce the germs. I have to say that after reading this news about cell phones today, and this about water fountains before, I'm starting to wonder what's next? Maybe toilets should give up their reputation as dirtiest spot in the house!

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Recently there's been concern that wi-fi posed a health-risk to those who used it. This came after a BBC television program discovered that radiation levels from wi-fi in a British school were three times higher than that emitted by a cell phone tower.

However, scientists point out that this is still a tiny amount of radiation, and is no cause for alarm. Regardless of the amount, they note that there is no research connecting wi-fi, or other devices that emit low levels of radiation (cell phones, microwaves, etc) to health problems.

That being said, for those who want to be on the safe side, the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research program suggests that children use laptops on a table (instead of on their laps), if they're going to be using it for an extended period of time.

It seems that every time a new technology is introduced to the public -- whether it's wi-fi, cell phones, even genetically modified foods -- there's an uproar over "possible" health concerns. While it's important to monitor these evolving technologies and the effects they have on our bodies, I also try and take the more sensational claims with a grain of salt. Any popular device that's not entirely understood is an easy target for someone trying to get their study published.

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It seems like every few months some doom and gloom study is published decrying the state of decay being suffered by the brains of today's youth. I always thought such reports were a bit ridiculous, especially since I remember them coming out when I was a kid and I think I turned out reasonably intelligent. There are always kids who, for various reasons, excel and those who, for various reasons, lag behind.

However, when I read claims that the abundance of text messaging employed by Irish youth (and by extension kids all over who have cell phones) is destroying their ability to form complex thoughts and ideas, it made me wonder. The choppy sentences and shorted words (Hey QT, how R U 2day? Wanna meet L8R?) I've seen thrown all over Myspace and Facebook make me think that maybe there is some substance to this study.

Kids seem to be given cell phones at younger and younger ages. If texting has become the writing medium that they are most familiar with, perhaps it is possible that they won't learn to write or express complete and intelligent thoughts. What do you think? Is it all much ado about nothing or R we doomed 2 future leaders who can't put a proper sentence together cuz they spent their youth writing in txt-speak?

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Good news for all of us cell phone users! Over the years there have been lots of conflicting rumors and news about whether cell phones and the radio waves they emit can cause cancer or not. But recently researchers in Denmark published results from an enormous study in which 420,000 cell phone users were tracked, some of which had been using cell phones for over 20 years. This study is the largest yet, and it seems to determine that there is no link between cell phone use and cancer risk.

Among the 420,000 cell phone users studied, the cancer rate was actually slightly lower than expected based on national cancer statistics. And although there have been a few studies that raised some doubt about the issue in the past, these most recent results support the majority that cell phones are safe. But U.S. health officials are still playing it safe -- insisting that there is no reason for concern, but refusing to officially declare cell phones risk-free either.

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