By Steve Jackson
Telstreet

Over the past few years, millions of people have come to realize the convenience offered by wireless phones - particularly the pocket-sized portables that make it easy to take your phone anywhere and everywhere.

Along with the surge in popularity of wireless phones have come concerns regarding the health risks associated with these devices. Rumors surfaced about a possible risk of brain cancer. When digital phones appeared, some people experienced problems with their pacemakers or hearing aids.

The good news is that many of the concerns have been overblown. And in cases where there are legitimate issues, such as with pacemakers, it is easy to use a phone without causing any risks to your health.

Brain cancer
In the early 1990s, as more people began using portable phones that could fit in a pocket or purse, some researchers raised the possibility that these phones could cause brain cancer. Because the antenna was part of the phone, instead of part of a separate bag or on the outside of a vehicle like with older phones, radio waves were being sent and received right next to the user's head. These waves could possibly cause cellular changes that would lead to cancer, the researchers said.

Numerous independent studies conducted over the last several years have shown that there is no credible link between wireless phone usage and brain cancer. These studies have also shown that there is no discernible link between cancer and living near a wireless phone tower, either.

Even so, agencies that regulate the wireless industry, as well as equipment manufacturers themselves, have taken steps to reduce the level of electromagnetic energy put out by wireless phones. Today's phones simply expose the user to less energy than they did a few years ago, providing greater assurances that there is no risk of brain cancer or related disorders.

Wireless phones and pacemakers
People equipped with pacemakers are already used to being careful around certain electronic devices, such as microwave ovens. When it comes to digital wireless phones, they need to be careful as well.

While most pacemakers seem to be unaffected, digital wireless phones can cause some pacemakers to malfunction. Fortunately, this does not mean that if you have a pacemaker you should not use a digital wireless phone.

In fact, by following a few simple precautions people with pacemakers can use wireless phones without worry.

Digital phones can cause interference with a pacemaker that causes the pacemaker to falsely detect an irregular heartbeat. However, the phones can do this only when they are within a couple of feet of the pacemaker.

When your phone is turned on but not in use, be sure not to keep your phone in a breast pocket. And when you are using your phone, make sure to hold use it on the opposite side of your body from where your pacemaker is located.

And be sure to check with your physician about your particular pacemaker and whether it is safe to use with a digital wireless phone.

Wireless phones and hearing aids
Digital phones have yielded dramatic improvements in sound quality. However, many hearing aid wearers haven't had the opportunity to experience the improvements, since they frequently cannot hear signals from a digital phone at all.

Wireless phone manufacturers have begun to address the problem by creating phones and accessories that enable hearing aid users to hear signals from digital phones. For example, several of Motorola's StarTAC phones come equipped with technology that makes the phone compatible with users of t-coil hearing aids. And Nokia has developed an accessory called a loopset that makes the signals from its phones understandable by t-coil hearing aids.