Your smartphone may be ruining your sleep
Many of us spend hours and hours on our smartphones and we sometimes even carry them to bed, without realising the dangers that come with that. We take a look at reasons why it’s a bad idea to take your cellphone to bed with you.
Researcher Dr Gregory Marcus told WebMD: “A substantial amount of our time is spent engaging with smartphones. These may have important health effects, including influencing fundamental needs, such as our ability to acquire and maintain a good night's sleep."
A new study, headed by Marcus, published in journal PLOS ONE, shows that the more time a person spends on their smartphone, the more likely they are to have problems falling asleep or having a good night's sleep.
The study found that those who used their smartphones towards sleep time found it difficult to fall asleep, this is because of the light from smartphones. "Almost all adolescents reported using one or more electronic devices during the last hour before bedtime. Extensive use of these devices was significantly and positively associated with SOL [sleep onset latency, or the amount of time it takes to nod off] and sleep deficiency, with an inverse dose–response relationship between sleep duration and media use," Norwegian scientists were quoted as saying by Mashable.
The other disadvantage of taking your phone to bed is that it can affect your sex life.
In previous research done by Durham University, forty per cent of those who participated in the research admitted to delaying sex because of being on their smartphones, while a third said they rushed through sex to answer messages on their phones, MSN reported. This shows that phones can have a negative impact on your relationship too, not just your sleep. So, for the sake of your relationship, switch off your phone and just enjoy quality time with your loved one.
See other negative effects of carrying your cellphone to bed in the video below...