The Surprising Way Your Cell Phone May Affect Your Immune System

For many of us, our cell phones are always in our hands. With the internet available at our fingertips 24 hours a day, it can be hard to admit that our cell phones may be wreaking havoc on our health, namely on our immune system.

Our cell phones lie at the bottom of our bags, on public surfaces, and even venture into the bathroom. All of the exposure is likely making your cell phone a hive to an unsettling amount of harmful bacteria. According to a 2012 study published by researchers from the University of Arizona, cell phones can be 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat. Furthermore, this bacteria can potentially weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to becoming sick. Before you leave your cell phone on the bathroom sink or hand it over to a friend, you may want to consider giving it a wipe-down with an electronics-safe disinfectant wipe to reduce the number of harmful bacteria on its surface.

Unfortunately, your immune system can still be compromised, even if you obsessively clean the surface of your phone. This may especially be the case if you read your phone in bed before getting some shut-eye. According to SCL Health, the blue light emitting from your phone's screen can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle. The Mayo Clinic indicates that a lack of sleep can negatively impact your immune system and make you more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus.

We're not recommending you banish your cell phone from your life, but you can be smarter about how you use it throughout the day. Consider disinfecting it more often with an electronics-safe wipe and keeping the screen away from your eyes right before bed. In the end, your immune system will thank you for it, and you may even be able to improve your quality of sleep.