Doctors in UAE warn against use of wireless headphones
Abu Dhabi : Doctors in the UAE are warning people against the use of bluetooth earbuds, which they claim not only causes a risk of sleep distraction and deafness, but also brain cancer.
The wireless/bluetooth headphones, which sell for as high as Dh700, are a serious health hazard and should not be used for longer than a "minute or two" a day, if necessary, said Dr Nasir Nawasreh, specialist - family medicine with subspecialty in acute care at Bareen International Hospital.
"I do not recommend people to use blue tooth headphones - minimal if they have to. The device has to be removed immediately after usage." Dr Nawasreh said researches indicate that brain cancer is one of the major risks the popular device could cause.
He pointed out that bluetooth headphones work by waves that are similar to the microwave, thus "literally cooking the human brain." "The more frequent the wave, the greater the harm. The better quality of sound, the more frequent and harmful the waves are."
The level of waves can cause biological effects by penetrating into the brain and skull.
Dr Nawasreh said researches also indicate that people under the age of 20, who use wireless headphones for more than 25 years, are more prone to developing brain cancer.
"The risk of developing brain cancer in these people is three times higher than the average person."
He said besides the risk of cancer and other effects on brain function, the device's radio-frequency energy could cause severe headaches, sleep disturbance, sleep memory, inflammation and deafness.
"Listening to voices via bluetooth causes the brain to become busier by analysing the sounds or music and it stores what it listens to." Dr Nawasreh stressed that recently, one of his patients became partially deaf due to the usage of bluetooth headphones.
"The patient ended-up having ringing ears and a degree of deafness caused by the usage of wireless headphones. The ear capacity is just like a glass of water, once it's full, the water will spill out."
Moreover, the high frequency waves could also cause side effects on people with pacemakers. He said people with a high risk of developing diseases due to family history or genetic disorders, should stay away from bluetooth headphones.
"This also includes people with chronic ear infections, as well as those with migraines and with a family history of brain tumors."
Dr Rajesh Baby, specialist in neurology, Universal Hospital, said although wireless headphones might be handy for the millions of people who use them globally, long-term exposure to the products could pose a risk on health and safety.
"There are a lot of controversies regarding cancer development and health risks when it comes to using wireless headsets."
He pointed out that lab studies on mice and rats revealed that heavy exposure of cellphone radiation increased the schwannoma of the heart, which is a tumour of the tissue that covers nerves.
The neurologist thus recommends people to put their phones on speaker instead of using bluetooth headphones or directly placing the phone on the ear. "The further away the phone is from the body, the better. The less time spent, the safer the user will be."
courtesy : khaleejtimes.com
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'Strong evidence' available against Saif attacker, police tell court while opposing his bail plea
Mumbai, Jul 25 (PTI): Police have opposed the bail plea of the Bangladeshi national arrested for allegedly stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan with a knife and injuring him at his home here in January this year, telling a Mumbai court there was "strong evidence" against the accused.
Citing a Forensic Science Laboratory report, police reiterated before the sessions court their earlier claim knife fragments that got lodged near the actor's spine during the attack as well as a part found at the crime spot have matched with the weapon recovered from the accused, Shariful Islam.
These three pieces were part of the same weapon (knife) used to attack the filmstar, the police said in a written response to the accused's plea submitted in the court on Thursday (July 24).
Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra on January 16 during a robbery attempt.
The 54-year-old actor underwent surgery at Lilavati Hospital to remove a piece of knife that got lodged near his spine during the attack. He was discharged from the private hospital after five days.
Shariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested two days later for allegedly stabbing Khan.
The police, in their response, highlighted that the accused is a Bangladeshi citizen residing illegally in India.
If granted bail, there was a possibility that he may flee India and not appear before the court during the trial. The crime committed by the accused is of a "very serious nature, and strong evidence" is available against him, they argued.
In his bail plea, filed through advocate Vipul Dushing, the accused asserted he was innocent and had no prior criminal record.
Investigation into the case has practically concluded with only the filing of a chargesheet pending, the accused contended while seeking bail.
The alleged attacker has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections related to house trespass, robbery and dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous injury.
