Texting is one of today's most trusted and most popular choice when it comes to talking over distances. With gadgets like the average smart phone that can send texts, make calls, and go on social networking sites, it seems that everyone, especially teens, are hooked with clicking their keys.

But being engrossed in their phones and texting too much can lead to different risks that can put someone's health or life on the line.

According to studies, the average U.S. mobile teen now sends or receives an average of 2,899 text-messages a month, and that a large percentage of these teens, admitted to texting while driving, TextingAccident.com reported. In addition to the large percentage of teens who are guilty of the epidemic, driving while using a cell phone shows a reduction of the brain's activity associated with driving by 37%.

With the cell phone being a major distraction, studies found that the risk of collision increases by up to 400% when talking on the phone and driving; and that in a study of 100 drivers, cell phones were associated with the highest frequency of distraction-related events for crashes and near-crashes.

This sort of danger is why personalities, artists, and celebrities like Oprah, Justine Bieber, and just this December 2011, Sharon Osbourne are supporting the ban against texting and driving. The mother or rock and host to the U.S. talk show, The Talk, Osbourne admitted to have been texting while driving which caused her to hit her pregnant assistant's car, ContactMusic.com reported.

Other Risks of Texting Too Much

Aside from risking life and limb, different studies have shown that those who text excessively face possible health risks. According to New York Times, all the thumb action and repetition that texting requires can take its toll and can result in muscle problems.

Since a person's cell phone is so accessible, Dr. Martin Joffe, a pediatrician in Greenbrae, California, noted that teenagers who sleep with their phones near them experience sleeping problems. This is because texting or replying can prevent a person from settling into a deep sleep. And because teenagers can text wherever possible, the activity can also decrease their attention span.

What's more is that according to Psychology Today, texting was found to be correlated with risky behaviors. This correlation gives rise to problems that can go hand in hand - texting causes teenagers to drink, and with drinking comes texting messages a lot more.

But not only that, Medical News Today reported that hyper-texters were a lot more likely to try drinking alcohol, to binge drink, to use drugs, to be in a physical fight, and to have sex.

In order to prevent teenagers from texting excessively, it is important to remind them of a few things about it, eHow.com reported. Things that teenagers should be reminded about is that texting and driving may be against the law in some states, the dangers it also presents can also help them be reminded of what are the risks.

For those who are using unlimited text messaging plans, try to steer clear from it and instead, opt for pay-per-text set up so as to control how much one texts. And lastly, turn off the phone especially in times when one needs to focus or when they get annoyed with the excessive texts they are receiving.