Remember this scenario? You check Facebook and find a post
from a friend complaining that he can’t sleep. You notice he posted it
at 1 a.m. “Maybe stop staring at a screen, dummy,” you think. But then
you realize it’s 2 a.m., you’re still reading Facebook from a smartphone
in bed. And you’ve never been more awake! So, what is happening?
LED screens are the enemies of sleep. It's an inconvenient truth.
Some studies confirm this. The latest of them is a survey of 9,846
teenagers aged 16 to 19 in Norway. The teens recorded their sleep
patterns as well as their technology usage throughout the day, with a
focus on the hour before bedtime. The result? The more you dose yourself
with devices, the higher your risk of sleeplessness!
A big problem with screens.
Previous studies have revealed that the blue light emitted by all LED
screens interferes with production of the sleep hormone melatonin in
the brain.
But that's only the start of the story.
The Norwegian researchers also suggest that electromagnetic radiation
may be one of the factors stopping us from getting a good night's rest.
The hunched-over posture that tends to come with screen usage can lead
to headaches and muscular pain as well. And that's not even counting all
the ways the Internet jolts our tired brains.
"There are probably multiple pathways explaining the associations between sleep and electronic devices," scientists say.
"Media use may directly affect sleep by replacing it due to its
time-consuming nature, or may interfere with sleep through increased
psychophysiological arousal." In other words, all important-looking news
and social media may be overstimulating your brain.
But in the meantime, there are a number of common-sense steps you can take.
The ideal nodding-off activity? Read a slow-paced book. If you must
read it on a screen, even the lowest brightness setting can be a little
on the bright side. Also try getting a good screen for the mobile device
that reduces glare.
However, the best idea - resist the urge to check Facebook.
And you may be well on your way to a slumber that should enhance your social life the following day.
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