MANILA, Philippines --- For the past four (4) years, I have written in this column no less than sixteen (16) articles about healthcare tips on the use of cell phones.

To keep us updated, let me share again the latest news on cell phone use found in the website of Dr. Mercola:

• Do you know that as long as the cell phone is turned on, the cell phone emits radiation intermittently – even if the cell phone user is not actually making a call. The simple advice is to turn off the cell phone more often. And when at home or at the workplace, to use a landline instead;

• Do you know that it is not healthful to have any electronic or wireless device in the bedroom since this will interfere with the quality of one’s sleep;

• Do you know that it is better for us to avoid carrying/tucking our cell phones anywhere in our body – not in our pants pocket; not in our shirt pocket; not in our bras; and not in our hips;

• Do you know that there appeared in the May issue of the Environmental Health Trust newsletter, a story of a young woman with no predisposing risk factors for cancer but had the habit of tucking her cell phone into her bra. She was later diagnosed with multi-focal breast cancer. Do you know that the pattern of the cancer and the distribution of the cancerous cells of the young woman lined up perfectly with the shape of her cell phone;

• Do you know that a research published in 2009 showed that wearing cell phone in the hips may weaken an area in the pelvis. Researchers who measured the pelvic bone density in 150 men who developed osteoporosis had the habit of attaching their cell phones in their belts for an average of 15 hours each day for six years – and found out too that the bone mineral density of the men was lower on the side of the pelvis where the mobile phones were carried because of the continuous radiation exposure;

• Do you know that cell phone radiation can affect men’s sperm count and the quality and motility of their sperm – thus affecting both the fertility and the health and well-being of their offspring. Thus, the male gender should not carry their cell phones on their belts or in their pockets, in close proximity of their reproductive organs – and in other sensitive organs as well, including liver, kidneys, colon, and bladder, all of which are susceptible to radiation;

• Do you know that an Israeli research group reported a sharp increase of parotid gland tumors over the last 30 years, with the sharpest increase taking place after 2001. The report further states that the parotid gland is a type of salivary gland located closest to your cheek – the same area where most people typically hold their cell phones;

• Do you know that children and teens are at greatest risk both for parotid gland tumors and brain tumors as their thinner skull bones allow greater penetration of cell phone radiation. And radiation can enter all the way into their midbrain where tumors are more deadly. Not to mention the fact that children’s cells reproduce more quickly making them more susceptible to aggressive cell growth;

• Do you know that a certain Dr. Siegal Sadetzki, the principal investigator of a research group testified at a US Senate Hearing that cell phones were identified as a contributor to salivary gland tumors. The report states further that the risk of getting a parotid tumor on the same side of your head that you use for listening to the mobile phone increases by:  34 percent if you are a regular cell phone user and have used a mobile phone for 5 years; 58 percent if you had more than about 5,500 calls in your lifetime; and 49 percent if you have spoken on the phone for more than 266.3 hours during your lifetime;

• Do you know that on May 31, 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO)/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) issued a report admitting that cell phones might indeed cause cancer, classifying radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as "possibly carcinogenic to humans". This is part of a report showing that wireless telephones increase the risk for brain cancer; and

• Do you know that about 87% of the world population (estimated at 5.9 Billion globally) are now cell phone users and that more and more researchers all over the world are echoing the same warning: That cell phone use may have serious biological side effects that must be acknowledged and remedied.

While we can no longer do without cell phones in today’s lifestyle, we should take prudent and simple precautionary health care measures in the use of cell phones knowing that excessive use of the cell phones is dangerous and in fact could kill far more people than smoking or asbestos because of radiation.

Have a joyful day!