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Excessive mobile phone use could harm health

DUBAI & SHARJAH — Though the benefits of mobile phones are being enjoyed by a huge chunk of the population across the world today, medical experts warn that long-term usage could put users at health risk.

Experts also say that the mobile phones pose a risk to not only adult users but also the younger generation. During a recent study, Swedish scientists warned children against using mobile phones regularly because their thinner skulls and developing nervous systems made them especially vulnerable.

Doctors in the UAE, too, have issued fresh warnings. Ophthalmologist Dr Shabbir Saifuddin from Al Musalla Medical Centre in Dubai says, “According to new reports, 17 countries of the developed world, including Sweden, are trying to prevent the sale of mobile games to children under the age of 16. Unfortunately, the UAE is not among these countries though the risks for children are higher here.”

He also says that children, who regularly play mobile games and frequently send text messages, are at risk of short-sightedness.

Dr Saifuddin, who recently did a study on the causes of myopia among some children in Dubai, found that some had become addicts of mobile games in the past few months.

He says that myopia was partially determined by genetic reasons. “But these children didn’t have any family history of short-sightedness. A probe into other causes of their visual defect proved that they all were regularly playing mobile games over the past six months,” he added.

Dr Saifuddin advised parents to spend more time with their children rather than leaving them to while away their time using electronic gadgets.

He also claimed that the adverse effects of television and computer were lesser than that of mobiles. “Extensive use of mobile phones could cause squint or short-sightedness as children hold the phones very close to their eyes while playing games and sending text messages. Young children, especially, are in danger as they are unaware of the difference between correct vision and blurred or dull vision. They will keep on playing, and ignore the blurred vision.”

He, however, said that the myopia caused by use of mobile phones is reversible. “Parents should prevent children from playing mobile games.