Many people visit the doctor complaining of insomnia, but they do not know that it is caused by excessive exposure to blue light, because they use their phone every night before going to bed. Using your cell phone before sleeping at night will make you sleep-deprived and tired.
This problem is becoming more common and unfortunately, people do not realize how important quality sleep is for their mental and physical health because using the phone in bed is becoming a “normal” thing. If you have a few minutes, take a look at our list of reasons why you should stop using your phone in bed at night and do something good for yourself.
1. Eye Damage
“Blue light” exposure at night has been shown to cause damage to the retina and macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is the loss of central vision or the ability to see what is right in front of you.
Cataract development may also be linked to blue light exposure. One doctor has come across 35-year-old with cloudy, cataract-affected eyes similar to 75-year-olds. The doctor believes smartphone use is the root of the problem, but more research needs to be done.
2. It will take you longer to fall asleep.
It is known that the blue light from the phone screens suppresses melatonin – the chemical that helps you fall asleep and regulates your sleep cycle. Therefore, it will take you longer to fall asleep. Also, a low melatonin level means an increased chance of having insomnia, tiredness during the day, and anxiety. If you must look at a screen, turn it way down and use “night shift” on an iPhone or any night mode, which will decrease the component of blue light.
3. Higher Risk of ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ
Increased light at night and resulting sleep problems have been linked to a higher rate of ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ. This is especially true for breast and prostate ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ. Melatonin, suppressed by “blue light,” is also an antioxidant and has been shown to be essential in the body’s natural fight against ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ.
Basically, melatonin helps the body fight ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ and “blue light” decreases this production. A one-time disruption would not be a serious issue, but there are some people who use their phones for hours at night before going to bed. They do this everyday of the year. Overtime, this begins to add up and create the problems listed above.
4. Damages The Retina
The blue light emitted by the mobile phone, more specifically the smartphones have the shortest wavelength that flickers more. This affects the vision and over a long period, it can even damage the retina. According to the American Macular Degeneration Association, the blue light emitted from the phones cause damage to the retinas, causing a transient/reversible vision problem.
5. Increased Risk Of Depression
Staring at your phone when you are supposed to sleep not only affects your physical health but also your mental health. When the blue light from the mobile screens disrupt your hormones and sleep patterns, you also become vulnerable to developing depression. Additionally, low energy levels during the day, combined with foggy thinking because of sleep deprivation can also trigger a sense of emotional and mental weakness.
6. Impacts Your Memory
Contradicting to its name ‘smart’ phones, overexposure to these gadgets can affect your brain. Night phone usage and disrupted sleep make it impossible for your brain to repair connections that were damaged during the day – one of the major reasons why you can’t think clearly after a night without sleep.
7. You may develop nomophobia.
Nomophobia is shortened from “no mobile phone phobia” extreme fear of not using/having a phone. According to a survey by Deloitte, Americas check their phones about 47 times per day which is a lot of course.
How to know if you have a real fear of being without a phone? If you feel anxious every time you have to put your phone down or whenever you have to leave your phone for a while – you most likely have symptoms of this phobia.
Also, if you have the habit of carrying the phone and using it in bed, you’ll probably not be far from having nomophobia. To prevent this from happening, turn off your phone an hour before sleeping and place your device at least 15 feet away from your bed.
References: breobox.com, boldsky.com, newslexpoint.com
