No question about it: Your cell phone is a convenient way to stay connected. But could you be addicted to it?

Answer the following questions to find out. Are you preoccupied with your cell? Do you continue to use it despite soaring bills? Do you get irritable when you try to cut down on calls? Researchers associate affirmative answers to these questions with addiction-like behavior. A break from your cell may be just what the doctor ordered.

In Britain, where cell phones outnumber people, researchers asked volunteers to answer questions typically used to uncover addictions to gambling and other problem behaviors. It turns out that 17 percent of the respondents had an unhealthy dependence on their cells, based on their answers to the questions. More than a third said they were preoccupied with their phones and used them to escape their problems or lift their moods. And a whopping 65 percent said they continued to use their cell phones despite mounting bills.

In another study, the same researchers asked volunteers to give up their cells for a few days. When they gave up the constant connection, the study subjects actually felt less stressed, and their blood pressure didn't spike as high when they talked about their phones.

Try turning yours off for a couple of days and see how you feel. Some face-to-face time with friends may be just the right replacement for cell phone overload.

If you decide to take a cell phone hiatus, be sure to let the important people in your life know how and when to reach you.