It's more a compulsion than an addiction, but many people have unhealthy attachments to their smartphones, says Upstate psychiatrist Christopher Lucas, MD.
A survey by the Pew Research Center found 46 percent of smartphone owners said they could not live without their phones. Lucas tells of another survey in which almost half of respondents said they'd rather break their arm than their cellphone.
He says a person's cellphone use may be excessive if it interferes with aspects of everyday life such as sleep and social interactions. Lucas advocates for people to create digital-free zones or digital-free times in order to help reduce dependence on phones, and he points out that the dominant psychological characteristic of those who use phones excessively is loneliness.
Also on this week’s show: research on the health of Native American children, and Meniere's disease.
Tune in this Sunday, January 7 at 7 p.m. for "HealthLink on Air."