Overuse of smartphones can have a variety of side effects — but is brain cancer one of them?

“Cell phones are ubiquitous, and concern about the radiation they emit can cause fear of brain tumor formation,” said Dr. Paul Saphier, M.D., a neurosurgeon and founder of Coaxial Neurosurgical Specialists in New Jersey.

Saphier addressed these concerns in a conversation with Fox News Digital.

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The radiation emitted from cellphones is “within the radiofrequency region of the electromagnetic spectrum,” Saphier said, hitting as high as 80 gigahertz (GHz) for 5G. 

“This is … low frequency and low energy,” the doctor said. “Essentially, not enough energy to cause damage to the cells’ DNA.”

Cancers occur when “for one reason or another,” the cells’ DNA is damaged and causes the cells to start multiplying, according to Saphier.

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In 2001, early research by the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics failed to prove any correlation between cell phones and brain tumors, Saphier noted.

Public fears of cell phone exposure were elevated after an early trial in 2008 found a correlation between glioblastoma (an aggressive malignant brain cancer) and acoustic neuromas, which Saphier described as benign brain tumors “arising from the nerves involving the inner ear.”

“At this time, there is no direct link identified between cell phone usage and brain tumor development.”

“This analysis was very flawed and relied heavily upon the authors’ own prior trials,” he said.

Additional international trials have not found a clear correlation, Saphier noted, although some Swedish trials have suggested a higher incidence in heavy cell phone users.

“As the technology changes and evolves, further trials and registries will be required to monitor the impact moving forward,” the neurosurgeon told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

More recently, in 2022, an update to the U.K.’s large-scale Million Women Study found no correlation between cell phone usage and brain tumors, the expert reported.

“At this time, there is no direct link identified between cell phone usage and brain tumor development,” Saphier said. 

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“As the technology changes and evolves, further trials and registries will be required to monitor the impact moving forward,” he added.

Scott Dylan, founder of NexaTech Ventures, a U.K. tech investment firm, also called attention to the type of non-ionizing radiation that smartphones emit.

A tech expert encouraged cell phone users to take breaks from their devices to avoid physical issues like eye and neck strain. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

“Unlike ionizing radiation, such as X-rays, non-ionizing radiation doesn’t have enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms or molecules,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“This means it cannot directly damage DNA in the same way that known carcinogens do.”

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Current research from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies radiofrequency radiation as a “possible carcinogen,” the tech expert said.

“This is less about fearmongering and more about encouraging thoughtful tech use.”

“But it’s important to note that this classification is based on limited evidence and doesn’t definitively link mobile phone use to cancer,” Dylan said. “To date, no causal relationship between smartphone use and brain cancer has been proven.”

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As the debate continues and research continues to evolve, Dylan encouraged cell phone users to follow “a few practical steps” to reduce exposure.

It is best to avoid sleeping with cell phones near the head, an expert advised. (Getty Images)

These steps include using hands-free options like speaker mode or headphones, limiting long calls, and avoiding sleeping with the phone near your head.

Dylan also recommends limiting use in low-signal areas where phones emit more radiation and taking breaks to avoid physical side effects like eye and neck strain.

“This is less about fearmongering and more about encouraging thoughtful tech use,” he told Fox News Digital.

Added Dylan, “In a broader sense, while smartphones may not pose significant cancer risks, other potential concerns like eye strain, sleep disruption and posture issues (commonly referred to as ‘tech neck’) are worth considering.”

An Arizona man got the surprise of a lifetime when he blew his nose and out popped a nearly 30-year-old Lego.

Ben Havoc took to Instagram earlier this month to explain how a small Lego dot from the 1990s was finally dislodged.

When he was about 6 years old, he stuck a tiny, circular Lego up his nose, he said in a video post.

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“I don’t know why I did that,” he laughed. “I was one of those children.”

After recognizing that the piece was too small for him to grab himself, Havoc sent a “little Lego man” on a “rescue mission” to retrieve the yellow dot.

“I stuck the Lego man in my nose and, of course, the Lego head popped off,” he said. “So now that was also stuck in my nose.”

“I can breathe out of this side of my nose now, and it’s fantastic.”

At this point, Havoc said, he “panicked loudly,” and his mother ran in with a pair of tweezers to remove what she thought was the only stuck Lego piece.

Now 32 years old, Havoc has suffered from health problems, including asthma and sleep apnea.

Ben Havoc (left) shows the retrieved Lego dot in his Instagram video, posted on Sept. 1. (Ben Havoc (@bigoompalumpia) / TMX)

His doctor recommended blowing his nose in the shower during the dry Arizona summer months to take advantage of the steam and humidity.

After regularly doing this for the last six months, Havoc suddenly blew out the Lego dot that had been in his nose for a suspected 26 years.

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“I don’t know what to think of this,” he said. “I just got diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and I feel like this Lego piece has been the culprit … I’m shooketh.”

After regularly blowing his nose in the shower for the last six months, Havoc suddenly blew out the Lego dot that had been in his nose for a suspected 26 years. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

“I can breathe out of this side of my nose now, and it’s fantastic,” he added. “I haven’t been able to do that since I was a child.”

Havoc placed the Lego piece in a bag and intends to bring it to his doctor for further evaluation.

What to do if an object gets stuck

If a foreign object becomes lodged in the nose, it’s important to remove it right away, especially if it’s a magnet, battery or an object that expands when it gets wet, according to Mayo Clinic’s website.

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The health system recommended applying “positive pressure” by blowing out of the nose to try and free the object while holding the opposite nostril closed.

Parents can attempt to give a “parent’s kiss” by placing their mouth over their child’s mouth and giving a short puff of air to push the object out, Mayo Clinic stated.

Mayo Clinic recommended applying “positive pressure” by blowing out of your nose to try and free the object while holding the opposite nostril closed. (iStock)

If the object is in sight and easy to grasp, it may be possible to remove it with tweezers.

Experts advise against poking the object with fingers or cotton swabs, as that could cause swelling or choking, or could end up pushing the item even further inside the nose.

Do not inhale or wash out the object, as that is a choking hazard, the clinic warned.

If there are symptoms of infection, it’s recommended to seek medical assistance immediately.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Havoc — as well as an ear, nose and throat doctor — for comment.

Hair loss can be a frustrating byproduct of aging.

About 70% of men will lose hair as they age, while half will experience hair loss by age 50, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Approximately 80% of cases of male pattern baldness are due to genetic factors, studies have shown.

Among women, up to 40% will have noticeable hair loss by age 50, UCLA Health reported.

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Hair loss can be a factor in mental health struggles, research has shown. 

A 2022 study found that adults with alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss) were up to 38% more likely to experience clinical depression, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

For those looking to minimize and prevent balding, the following five treatments could be helpful, experts say.

1. Minoxidil

Manhattan-based dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, recommends starting with the over-the-counter topical minoxidil, which does not require a prescription.

“It is thought to help keep hair in the growing phase, also known as anagen,” he told Fox News Digital.

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It is important to prevent the topical form of minoxidil from dripping onto the face, Camp warned, as it can promote hair growth in unwanted areas.

Oral minoxidil was also recommended as an off-label treatment for hair loss. This version of the medication does require a prescription.

“In men with male pattern hair loss, it is important to use a DHT blocker combined with something like minoxidil to improve blood flow to the scalp,” a doctor said. (iStock)

The medicine is normally prescribed to treat high blood pressure, according to Camp, but one of its side effects is hair growth.

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“Minoxidil is prescribed at low doses to treat hair loss to take advantage of this side effect and promote hair growth,” Camp said.

2. Oral finasteride

Oral finasteride is an FDA-approved treatment for male androgenetic alopecia, which is also known as male pattern baldness, Camp said.

Finasteride works by limiting the formation of a hormone called DHT, which is responsible for hair shrinkage and hair loss, the doctor said.

Minoxidil and finasteride are both effective and have an “established track record in treating hair loss,” a doctor said. (iStock)

Las Vegas dermatologist Dr. Candace Spann, MD, the creator of ReTress, a hair care formula for women experiencing hair loss, echoed the importance of targeting DHT with a blocker to “improve blood flow to the scalp” and boost hair growth in men.

Jimmy C. Sung, MD, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and medical director of Tribeca Aesthetics in New York City, agreed with Spann and Camp that minoxidil and finasteride are both effective and have an “established track record in treating hair loss.”

3. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a treatment administered in a medical provider’s office, where a patient’s blood is drawn and spun to separate the plasma from the red blood cells, according to Camp.

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The plasma, which is rich in platelets and “growth factors,” is then injected into the scalp to “improve hair density and caliber,” he said.

PRP has also been used for wound healing in trauma and joint injuries, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, but has been gaining popularity in addressing male pattern baldness and stimulating the growth of hair transplants.

PRP is a treatment administered in-office, where a patient’s blood is drawn and spun to separate the plasma from the red blood cells. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Results are most noticeable six months after the scalp injections. The procedure is not permanent, and additional injections may be needed, experts say.

Sung called hair transplants an “excellent solution for hair restoration for patients who are good candidates and looking for long-term solutions.”

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“Platelet-rich plasma injections enhance hair transplant results and benefit some non-transplant patients,” he told Fox News Digital.

4. Saw palmetto 

An alternative treatment for hair loss, saw palmetto is a plant-based, over-the-counter supplement.

“Saw palmetto is thought to reduce the amount of DHT hormone that contributes to hair loss,” Camp said.

Saw palmetto, a palm native to the southeastern U.S., is commonly used in supplements to “improve prostate health, balance hormone levels and prevent hair loss in men,” according to Healthline. (DeAgostini/Getty Images)

“The evidence behind the use of saw palmetto as an effective treatment for hair loss is limited, and OTC supplements are not FDA-regulated,” he noted.

A 2020 study published by the National Institutes of Health noted a 60% improvement in overall hair quality among patients experiencing hair loss who used various oral and topical saw palmetto products.

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The study also found that 27% of participants saw improved total hair count, 83% reported increased hair density and 52% said the hair loss stopped progressing.

5. Scalp treatments and vitamin therapy

Treating hair loss in both men and women is a “multifaceted approach,” Spann said, involving the treatment of other issues like low vitamin D or scalp inflammation.

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“Treating female pattern hair loss is more complicated, because it requires addressing all underlying causes,” she told Fox News Digital.

Treating women’s hair loss is “more complicated,” a dermatologist said. (iStock)

“It is crucial to improve blood flow to the scalp, calm scalp inflammation and correct underlying vitamin deficiencies.”

Those experiencing scalp inflammation, or scalp folliculitis, should see a board-certified dermatologist to identify the cause of the condition and determine the proper treatment.

Some cases of scalp inflammation can be remedied at home with a warm compress, antibiotic ointment, antihistamines, or an antifungal or anti-dandruff shampoo. (iStock)

Some cases can be remedied at home with a warm compress, antibiotic ointment, antihistamines, or an antifungal or anti-dandruff shampoo, according to the Valley Skin Institute website.

In some cases, however, the condition may require prescription-strength medication.

A 2020 study published by the National Institutes of Health noted a 60% improvement in overall hair quality among patients experiencing hair loss who used various oral and topical saw palmetto products. (iStock)

“It is also important to correct iron deficiencies, low iron stores and low vitamin D levels,” Spann added.

Many vitamins and minerals play a role in healthy hair growth, according to Harvard Health.

Some of these include vitamins A, B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), B12, C, D and E, as well as iron, selenium and zinc.

“Consuming adequate vitamins and minerals is important to preventing and managing hair loss,” states the Harvard Health website. “Most people can cover all their nutritional needs through a healthy, balanced diet.”

Those who have questions about choosing the right hair loss treatment should consult a medical provider, experts recommend.