7 Ways Your Cell Phone Can Make You Healthier

Cell phones get a bad rap in the health world -- science has linked them to everything from interruptions in our sleep patterns to carpal tunnel, not to mention the recent buzz over whether or not the radiation could contribute to an increased risk of brain cancer.

But while we're finding strategies to make our relationship with cell phones safer (turning them off before bedtime to cut down on light exposure or using wired headsets to reduce radiation exposure), there may also be a healthy medium where the technological innovation of cell phones and smart phones can actually help us to lead healthier lives.

Just recently, several studies have pointed to the positive benefits -- here, the results from those, and other reasons your cell phone may be actually be healthier than you think:

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Diabetes Coaching

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A recent study published in the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Care found that a mobile coaching app, combined with traditional treatment programs, could help patients to manage their Type 2 diabetes. Evaluating 163 people, the researchers found a 1.9 percent decline in glycated hemoglobin (an important factor in how well the disease is being managed) among people using the mobile coaching system -- those without it saw only a 0.7 percent decline. "These results are very encouraging," principal investigator Charlene C. Quinn, Ph.D., R.N., an assistant professor of epidemiology and public health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine said in a university press release. "Mobile health has the potential to help patients better self-manage any chronic disease, not just diabetes."

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A recent study published in the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Care found that a mobile coaching app, combined with traditional treatment programs, could help patients to manage their Type 2 diabetes.

Evaluating 163 people, the researchers found a 1.9 percent decline in glycated hemoglobin (an important factor in how well the disease is being managed) among people using the mobile coaching system -- those without it saw only a 0.7 percent decline.

"These results are very encouraging," principal investigator Charlene C. Quinn, Ph.D., R.N., an assistant professor of epidemiology and public health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine said in a university press release. "Mobile health has the potential to help patients better self-manage any chronic disease, not just diabetes."

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Comments

[annyperl]

11:12 AM on 08/16/2011

Very interesting article. I'm really surprised as scientists always said that cell phones were dangerous for our health. I even found some articles stating that cell phones cause cancer!

[The Tofu Times]

01:32 AM on 08/13/2011

These are useful apps, however it is important not to lose sight of the potentially harmful effects of excessive mobile and smartphone usage - stress may be the undoing of the present generation. See this article on The Tofu Times http://www.thetofutimes.com/#/the-not-so-smartphone/4553789238.

[Karthlaine Larose]

09:57 AM on 08/11/2011

TOTALLY! i thought i was the ONLY one who did this :D AWESOME! I look up all types of things, like recipes and what not. With THIS phone its alot easier: Check it out: http://tinyurl.com/3zanq2r

[porcinechic]

10:33 AM on 08/09/2011

You forgot to mention the main one...... don't be txting while you're jay-walking with your back to traffic. While that may not actually "make you healthier", at least you stand a better chance of being around to take your own shot at it.

[JoeyDee2]

09:39 AM on 08/09/2011

Brain cancer causes cell phones.

[BernieSanders4President]

02:39 AM on 08/09/2011

The negative health effects of EMF radiation greatly outweigh these "proposed" benefits.

[ncschaef]

11:01 PM on 08/08/2011

Sniff, sniff. I smell a public relations/marketing "news" story plant...

[SuperFly25]

09:58 PM on 08/08/2011

This is about how cell phone APPS are "healthy" not cell phones. HP fail.

[supercharger72b]

07:43 PM on 08/08/2011

I just have a cell phone, just for calls, nothing else, not even Text message....If i break down on the road at least I can call for help

[john6jcli]

05:01 PM on 08/08/2011

How about how cell phones are UNhealthy? Like how I've been hit three times by idiots driving & talking on cell phones. Rear ended twice at a stop light & broadsided once from a woman driving through a red light. ALL were talking on cell phones at the time.

[supercharger72b]

07:40 PM on 08/08/2011

tell me about it, mine was a head on collision, she was talking on the cell and went throw a red light making a left turn

[john6jcli]

09:09 PM on 08/08/2011

Am sorry to hear about it. Hopefully you weren't badly injured. I was lucky myself, & escaped serious harm, but I'm waiting for the next time...

[itvending]

04:53 PM on 08/08/2011

I thought our heads were suppose to EXPLODE with too much usage....

[freekmeout]

03:58 PM on 08/08/2011

you dont need a cell phone to do any of these things!

[celeb1]

04:48 PM on 08/08/2011

Freekmeout,
You are absolutely correct,this story reads like an infomercial for cellular.