Over the last decade, mobile phones have become increasingly integral to our everyday lives. We use them to arrange meetings, to catch up on gossip, to participate in conference calls and to chat to friends – a far cry from the days when mobiles were thought of as devices to be used only in an emergency.

However, some scientists believe that the radio frequency fields used by mobiles and phone masts to communicate information may pose a risk to health. Several studies have linked constant mobile usage with increased instances of brain cancer, while a 2008 report commissioned by the Mobile Manufacturers Forum suggested that making an extended call on a mobile before going to bed could interfere with sleeping patterns.

So, can regular mobile phone usage really affect your health? The easy answer is that current evidence is inconclusive. A six-year Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) study – the largest in the UK to date - found only a ‘very faint hint’ of a link between long-term mobile usage and brain tumours, concluding that mobile phones were harmless. On the other hand, Professor Bengt Arnetz, who led the Mobile Manufacturers Forum study, said that radiation from mobiles could make people “more alert and focussed, decreasing their ability to fall asleep.”

If you’re concerned about the health affects of your mobile phone then there are a number of options. The first is to choose a handset with a low Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) rating, which will reduce your exposure to radiation. Vodafone offers a number of phones with low SAR rating, including the Nokia 1208 and the HTC.

The other option is to go hands-free by purchasing a mobile headset. Not only can headset usage give peace of mind to those concerned about the health risk of mobiles, they also allow you to drive and complete day-to-day tasks while continuing to talk on your mobile. Pick up a headset such as the Vodafone 3.5mm Stereo Headset for under £7, or splash out on a more expensive model such as the Plantronics Audio 990 if you’re after business-quality sound.