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In a recent statement, Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a renowned neurologist from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, emphasized the potential link between mobile phone use and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Sharing his insights on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Kumar advocated for limiting the duration of phone calls as part of broader efforts to promote heart health.
Dr. Kumar’s recommendations are based on a recent study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, which found a significant association between mobile phone usage and heart diseases such as stroke, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. “It is useful to limit the duration of taking and making calls in order to reduce the risk of CVDs,” Dr. Kumar stated. He also stressed the importance of adopting other heart-healthy lifestyle habits, including quitting smoking, managing psychological stress, and ensuring adequate sleep.
The Chinese study, conducted by researchers from Southern Medical University, investigated the relationship between mobile phone use and cardiovascular health in over 444,000 individuals. After a follow-up period of more than 12 years, the researchers identified a higher risk of CVD in those who spent more than an hour per week on phone calls. Specifically, 56,181 individuals (12.7%) developed CVD during the study, with risk notably elevated in smokers and people with diabetes.
According to the study, the link between mobile phone use and CVD could be partly explained by poor sleep quality, psychological distress, and neuroticism, conditions that may be exacerbated by frequent phone use. Additionally, mobile phones emit radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs), which the researchers suggested may disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and trigger inflammatory and oxidative stress responses. These physiological changes, in turn, can harm the cardiovascular system.
Global statistics highlight the growing prevalence of cardiovascular disease, which has surged in parallel with the dramatic rise in mobile phone usage. The International Telecommunication Union reported that mobile phone subscriptions surpassed 8.2 billion worldwide in 2020, while the World Heart Federation (WHF) revealed that CVD-related deaths increased from 12.1 million in 1990 to 20.5 million in 2021.
Dr. Kumar reiterated the study’s call for moderation in mobile phone use, especially for those with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, which already increase CVD risk. “Smoking and diabetes compound the risk of CVDs, and hence smokers should quit smoking and people with diabetes should keep blood sugars under control,” he advised.
As the prevalence of heart disease continues to rise globally, experts like Dr. Kumar emphasize that reducing mobile phone usage could be a simple but effective step toward better heart health, especially when combined with other lifestyle changes.
Conclusion
While mobile phones have become indispensable in modern life, their impact on health, particularly cardiovascular health, is becoming a growing concern. Limiting phone call duration, managing stress, and adopting heart-healthy habits may collectively help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
