Myth or Fact: Does Phone Radiation Cause Brain Cancer?
Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Doctors state there is no scientific evidence linking smartphone, laptop, or screen use to brain cancer.
- Radiation from smartphones is not ionizing and therefore cannot damage DNA or cause cancer, according to a neurosurgeon.
- Excessive screen time can lead to eye strain, sleep disturbances, neck pain, headaches, and concentration issues, but these are not indicative of brain tumors.
Concerns about smartphones causing brain cancer persist, but medical experts refute these claims. Dr. Praveen Gupta, a neurosurgeon with over two decades of experience, asserts that no scientific evidence supports a link between using smartphones, laptops, or any screen device and brain cancer. He explains that smartphone radiation is non-ionizing, meaning it cannot damage DNA and trigger cancer.
There is no scientific evidence that using smartphones, laptops, or watching anything through a screen causes brain cancer.
While dismissing the cancer link, Gupta acknowledges that excessive screen use can negatively impact health. Prolonged exposure can cause eye strain, disrupt sleep cycles, lead to neck pain and headaches, and impair concentration. "The real problem with excessive screen use is its impact on our sleep, mental health, and brain function," he stated.
The real problem with excessive screen use is its impact on our sleep, mental health, and brain function.
Another common myth addressed by Gupta is the belief that headaches are always a sign of a brain tumor. He clarifies that most headaches stem from more common, treatable conditions like migraines, tension headaches, stress, dehydration, sinusitis, or lifestyle factors. "Brain tumors only cause a small fraction of all headache cases," Gupta noted.
Brain tumors only cause a small fraction of all headache cases.
Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.