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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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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One way to cut down on the stress in your life: Stop worrying so much. Easier said than done, right? Some things we simply must worry about -- the safety of our kids in this scary world, for example. But here are nine things we can strike from our worry lists, starting today.

Toilets
Yes, it's possible to contract an infection from potty seats -- see this previous post -- but it's not as likely as you might think. In fact, as long as you wash your hands after a trip to the bathroom, you'll likely never get one. You see, bacteria can't pass through intact skin so in order to catch something, you'd have to not wash your hands and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes. As for STDs -- they are acquired only by having sex.

Doorknobs
Wash your hands in public restrooms, open doors with your elbows or use a paper towel to turn the knob and you'll fare just fine in the germ department.

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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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It's time to unplug. Not all the time. Just during times that should be devoted to peace, relaxation, and good old fashioned conversation. So unplug your computers and TVs in the bedroom. Turn off your phones during meals and social engagements. Use your "out-of-office" e-mail feature when you go out of town. And ditch your cell phone and your Blackberry while working out. Anyone who needs to reach you can surely wait the hour or so it takes you to concentrate on your physical fitness.

Multi-tasking may be good in some situations but it can also be harmful. In fact, brain imaging proves it results in overall poorer performance. Talking on your cell phone while logging miles on the treadmill, for example, means you are not fully tending to either task. Both your workout and your chit-chat are compromised because neither one has your complete attention. Remember this for yourself -- and your kids too. Plugging in is just not good for them. It can deprive them of being present for what's going around them and can splinter them from family, nature, and their own creativity.

You owe it to yourself and your kids to disconnect once in a while. In the end, it will help you reconnect with what's really important.

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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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So a couple of news bits came out together at the end of last week:

#1 Cell phones are, after all, okay to use in hospitals. This is good news not because I think people need to spend more time on their mobile phones than they already do, but if there's any place that deserves the right for impromptu or impulsive phone calls it's in a hospital, where lives can change in mere moments.

and

#2 Store anti-theft devices (the kind that stand on either side of the entrance) may cause pacemakers and internal defibrillators to malfunction. It's only happened two times (documented times, anyway), but that's enough to cause some concern, obviously.

Ironic, somehow.

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I had to take a minute to hold my tongue on this because it's one that so many people like myself are guilty of. If I counted up the number of times I could be blamed for Dialing and Driving, some states would already have me in jail.

After a certain point though, it really becomes a personal issue. We've all heard the case: it's dangerous because it takes your attention off the road. But what if someone told you it was more risky than driving drunk? Now that's a bold claim! All of a sudden talking on the phone seems about as safe as turning your minivan into a driverless missile on the road.

This oldie-but-goodie article points out the dangers that we should all be reminded of. For instance, did you know that using a hands-free device doesn't really make you safer? All it really does is ensure that you won't have a cell phone to clutch for dear life. So next time you're late picking up the kids or are needed in eight places at once, reconsider that phone, or at the very least make the conversation as short as possible.

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