Press Release

A recent study review by WHO has classified cell phone use as a Class 2B risk for cancer, suggesting a possible link between cell phone use and malignant brain gliomas. They did this after reviewing studies on long term cell phone use and the possible increase incidence of brain tumors. However, there are three large trends in cell phone use that very likely will reduce any potential small long term increased risk to cancer that past studies may have found.

If there is a risk based on the past studies, the risk is correlated largely to heavy cell phone use for over 10 years, and using the cell phone on the same side of the head when talking. However, the shifting trends in the way cell phones are used likely will change the future potential risk that the current data doesn't take into account.

First, since 2009, the amount of data that is sent via text messaging has surpassed the amount sent via talking on cell phones. Texting is done with the cell phone several inches to as much as a foot away from the head, reducing the potential risk of cell phones and cancers. Remember these studies raise the potential risk largely in part due the proximity of the cell phone to the head.

Second, the use of social media will also likely cut the future risk of cell phones and cancer. Social media is all about instant messaging, twitter, facebook, and other methods of communicating with a global audience, and none of which uses talk on mobile devices.

The third reason that the risk for cell phone and cancer will likely be lower than any potential risk raised from past studies is that users are increasing using their cell phones for gaming. Gaming has exploded in the last several years, and gaming on cell phone has increased exponentially. The number of users that use their cell phones for gaming is around 25%. Again, games are played with the cell phones several inches away from the head, and many of these games are multiplayer games that allow people to communicate without talking to each other, but using instant messaging or other methods within the games for communicating.

There is a lot of debate about the recent WHO review of the potential risk of cell phone use and cancer risk. Whether or not the past data supports their guidelines will likely turn out to be largely irrelevant in the future as the shifting trends of use of cell phones will cut whatever small increased risk cell phones may pose.

NeurologistCare.com is founded by Dr. Amarish Dave', a Board Certified Neurologist in Practice in Illinois. He also serves as a consultant for media regarding health and technology related issues.

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