Is Wearing Smart Watches Harmful for Health? Here’s the Truth!
Experts warn that while smartwatches offer convenience, they pose potential health, psychological, and privacy risks, advising users to take breaks and use them cautiously.
Smartwatches and fitness bands have become essential parts of our daily lives, offering a wide range of features such as fitness tracking, health monitoring, communication, and even entertainment. However, as these devices grow in popularity, many are questioning their safety and potential risks.
One of the major concerns about smartwatches is the electromagnetic radiation emitted by their Bluetooth and WiFi connections. Although international standards consider the amount of radiation emitted by these devices to be safe, experts warn that it may still have negative effects on the body. Some studies, such as one from PubMed UK, suggest that the electromagnetic radiation can narrow blood vessels, restricting blood flow in the wrist area in more severe cases, leading to headaches, eye strain, and even nausea.
Experts recommend wearing smartwatches only when necessary or during exercise to monitor health and vital signs like heart rate, steps taken, and oxygen levels. This could help reduce the risks associated with prolonged use.
There are also psychological side effects of wearing smartwatches. Constant notifications and alerts can be distracting, leading to decreased productivity and safety concerns, especially when driving or using heavy machinery. Additionally, the bright screens of smartwatches can interfere with sleep patterns, making it important to adjust screen brightness and manage notifications effectively.
Apart from health and psychological risks, smartwatches can also pose privacy and security threats. Many smartwatches rely on personal data from your phone to function, such as GPS tracking and emergency SOS features. Unfortunately, most smartwatches lack proper cybersecurity protocols, making them vulnerable to cyber threats and data leaks.
To protect your privacy, experts suggest exercising caution when installing apps on your smartwatch, keeping the software updated, avoiding unnecessary sharing of personal data, using strong and unique passwords, and periodically deleting health data. It is also advised to use Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi for a more secure connection.
In light of these risks, experts recommend not wearing smartwatches all the time. Taking breaks from wearing your smartwatch throughout the day can help ensure both your health and privacy are safeguarded.
As smartwatches continue to evolve, it is important for users to be aware of these potential risks and take necessary precautions to use them safely.
