Modern conspiracy theories are blowing up every aspect of the new technology to make our life better. Have you ever wondered about your smartwatch and some of the health concerns it may raise? Some believe it can cause cancer, with others arguing radiation from smartwatches will eventually lead to cancerous tumors developing in the brain.
In the technologically driven world we live in today, it comes as no shock that many people believe these theories. However, smartwatch health risks are about the same as the risks you take when using your mobile smartphone, even though some sensational news headlines and social posts claim otherwise.
Fortunately, being a realist makes it easy to question some of these theories. With the help of some research, we have done some intricate searching for the answers. No longer will you need to worry about a Fitbit tumor – or if Apple Watch radiation levels will cause any significant harm to your body in the long term.
Read on to find out more!
Health Concerns Around Smartwatches
To help us understand some of the problems related to the smartwatch radiation crisis, we have done some deeper searching. This small breakdown will help you understand some of the fundamentals when it comes to your smartwatch. Here are some of the most common smartwatch health risks that you need might have heard:
Apple Watch Radiation
Looking back at the Apple Watch 3, many people had concerns about Apple Watch radiation in 2017. With the release of the Series 4, the debate about radiation was reignited, with many people fearing radiation burns. However, this has never been concisely proven to be true and cause any real harm to individuals.
Although tests to mice and other smaller animals have revealed potential growths of tumors when exposed to Smartphones for prolonged time periods, tests for the smartwatch was not nearly as bad. All of this started as the National Toxicology Programs conducted an experiment to see if cell phone radiation can, in fact, cause radiation.
Nevertheless, this study was directly targeted towards the cell phone and many people have blown it out of proportion to suggest that it is possible for the smartwatch as well. Many tests have been run for Apple Watch radiation in 2017 and more studies in 2018. These tests have revealed that the Apple Watch does meet the regulations for Radio Frequency Exposure.
Fitbit Radiation Burn
Do Fitbits cause cancer is one of the most interesting questions found among skeptics. Fitbit radiation burn is something many people believe they have. However, since Bluetooth is the main cause of the radiation being emitted, it can be hard to pinpoint fact from fiction. By doing a simple search, you can find out about EMF radiation, but limited research is available on Bluetooth radiation.
We all know some of the common side effects of EMF radiations. This can lead to chronic headaches and even sleep disorders. However, it is much more common in the frequent use of mobile phones. Since Bluetooth radiation is now closely monitored, we have seen results suggesting it to be less than the government standard for absorption levels.
Do Fitbits cause cancer? The possibility can always be there, but with limited information, it is hard to make a statement like this. Since you use your Fitbit only for certain parts of the day, you might not even be wearing it for long enough to have to deal with the emission of EMF radiation that could be harmful to your body.
Can Smartwatches Cause Cancer?
The answer is actually still debatable, a smartwatch does have the ability to cause cancer in the long run. Many studies conducted on mice and other animals have suggested this possibility. However, it is highly unlikely to happen.
The radiation emitted by these watches are not nearly enough to cause you any significant harm any time soon. As we become more accustomed to the smartwatch in the modern era, it might become a little more daunting to make this prediction. Also, there are no viable studies suggesting cancer or tumors is directly related to the use of a smartwatch.
The radiation emitted by these watches are not nearly enough to cause you any significant harm any time soon.
Smartwatch health risks need to be analyzed a little deeper to fully understand the possibilities of them really affecting your life. More people die from crossing the street without looking, creating an argument for whether it is safer to wear a smartwatch that could potentially keep you from your mobile phone when crossing the street.
Are There Any Side Effects From Wearing Smartwatches?
Wearing a smartwatch is something we will continue doing. Yes, there might be many possible danger theories, but we have become so used to them that taking them away will drastically affect our lives. Here are some of the side effects you might experience:
A Little Radiation
People wearing smartwatches have reported some of the side effects experienced when in contact with radiation. These may include a little bit of nausea and headaches. However, to experience these side effects, you need to wear the smartwatches quite often
Apple watch radiation levels are actually low, much like the Fitbit alternative many people often rely on for the wearables. If you wear these watches 24-hours a day, you might find yourself suffering from these problems and alleviating them can be quite daunting. It is like ridding yourself when you have a really bad habit.
There is no real evidence to suggest that any of these statements are true to chronic users of the smartwatch. Most of these symptoms are based on mere opinions and some of the experiences that many users have had.
Insomnia
Whether you like it or not, Insomnia is a real problem, that many people need to deal with. Studies have already shown how media or technology can actually make insomnia worse, leaving you with countless nights being awake. Insomnia can also lead to major problems like reduced concentration at work, and less productivity.
Insomnia is most apparent when looking at users who utilize the smartwatch within a couple of minutes before they head to bed. You might be better off not using any technology, or “blue light items before you head for bed.
Body Dysmorphia
Overeating or common eating disorders have all been attributed to modern technology. Social plays a massive role in potentially leading to many of these problems. This might not be as a result of radiation given off by the smartwatch, but could be a result of people sharing and constantly checking the notifications from the watch.
Since the smartwatch makes it much easier for you to see notifications and even many of the posts added by your friends, you could be subliminally manipulated to choose a simple snack instead of healthy cooking. On the plus side, many of them do have apps to help you track your calories and this might dissuade some people from overindulging.
Constant Distractions
If you only use your mobile phone, you might not be inclined to constantly see what is going on. It takes more effort to remove the phone from your pocket and see what is going on when you are busy at work or with something important. However, the smartwatch makes it possible to read any messages or see notifications without too much effort.
On a psychological level, this might cause a massive distraction. Once we see notifications or posts, we are inclined to reply. Curiosity also plays a massive role, leading to reading messages and contemplating a response when your attention should be directed to something more important.
This might seem bad, but on the plus side, you could be informed of important matters and react as soon as possible. Should someone in the family need immediate help in a life or death situation, you can now quickly check and respond if needed. However, self-control is definitely very important when using a smartwatch.
Top Tips To Avoid Smartwatch Health Risks
Seeing all of these problematic effects of the smartwatch might leave you feeling a little worried. However, none of them are that bad when you know how to wear them. Here are a couple of tips you could keep in mind when wearing your smartwatch:
Limit Use If Possible
Do we really need to keep the smartwatch on our arm when we go to bed? If you are not using any sleeping trackers, this might be a waste. Just as you remove your smartwatch when taking a shower, you can use this as the perfect time to reduce your smartwatch wear time.
Another excellent time to take a break from the smartwatch is on weekends. If you need to go out, you can wear the watch, but when you are having a break in the comfort of your own home, there is absolutely no need to wear the watch. Apple watch radiation levels will drastically drop, as will potential Fitbit radiation burn when you start limiting your smartwatch wear time.
Turn Off The Watch At Work
Turning off the smartwatch does not mean you will no longer be receiving calls. It only means you won’t see the call and feel the immediate need to answer, breaking all of your working concentration and momentum in the first place.
As a rule of thumb, we encourage people to turn of the smartwatches when they enter meetings. Nothing can be more frustrating than having someone constantly sneak a peek at the watch and using the excuse of checking the time. Try to limit dissociate with the smartwatch when you step into important environments.
Additionally, you can simply turn off the connection to your mobile phone if the time is important. They say time is money and we do need to keep track of how we spend our time. Turning off the watch also eliminates the radiation from the Bluetooth connection. However, you can still keep track of fitness stats etc.
Learn To Not Be Dependant On The Watch
We have seen many people become too reliant on the smartwatch for all their needs. Yes, it does offer a massive advantage and can help you with more in life, but you need to keep that dependency under control.
Smartwatch games can be one of the worst things you have when you live in a corporate environment. However, they can be beneficial when you are bored. Try to be consciously aware of your smartwatch interactions and monitor all of your potentially bad habits. One of the best ways to accomplish this can be to note it down each time you use the watch and find out how much time are you spending on it compared to the rest of your life. Using a hybrid smartwatch can also make a massive difference.
So, Are Wearables Safe In 2018?
The main question you have after reading this is whether or not you should buy one. The smartwatch is actually a great investment. It might not hold value as well as some of the classic timepieces like Rolex, but it makes life a little easier for you. Wearable technology is definitely safe in 2018 and you don’t need to have any real concerns about whether or not a smartwatch can cause cancer.
Doing this article was a real pleasure and we hope you have a better understanding as well. We would love to read some of your comments and find out what you think about this topic. Do you think we should be concerned about Smartwatch Health Risks and why?
Links & Resources
Here are a couple of licks for further reading:
- National Toxicology Study: https://www.saferemr.com/2016/05/national-toxicology-progam-finds-cell.html
- EMF Radiation Regulations: http://www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/nonionising/electro.htm
- Radio Theraphy Side Effects: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/radiotherapy/side-effects/
