Staring at your TV screen or phone until you fall asleep is not only bad for your eyes and brain, as studies show that the dangerous habit can lead to major health issues.
Technology can be used for good and bad. But not knowing how to use it correctly can also have adverse effects. You may not realize it, but sleeping with your favorite show running on the TV or a video on your smartphone can reduce your lifespan.
How light from TV and smartphones affects health
ER doctor John Whittington explains the harmful effects of light from TV and smartphones, especially at night, quoting a study from last year. He says exposure to the artificial blue light may “shorten your life.” Scary, right?
Researchers at Northwestern University School of Medicine conducted a study on 552 community-dwelling adults aged between 63 and 84, to understand the health risk of TV and smartphone addiction.
They found that light at night was associated with a greater risk of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Healthy adults exposed to a single night of room light at 100 lux during sleep “showed increased insulin resistance the next morning” compared to those who slept under dim light.
Healthline notes, the blue light produced by TV and other devices can reduce the amount of melatonin – a hormone your body makes to help you sleep. As light makes it harder for the brain to know if it’s night or day, falling asleep becomes difficult.
“So falling asleep with your TV on in your room may be doing more damage than you realize,” the doctor says. Dr. Joe Whittington has been out of residency for a few years while using his knowledge of medicine to educate people on social media where he has a huge fan following.
Do this instead
Waking up in the middle of the night and looking at the phone is the most common habit thanks to the advent of technology. But this makes it harder to fall asleep and may cause “sleep debt” in the long run.
Looking at your phone at night can stimulate your brain and delay your REM sleep, keeping you up beyond the usual bedtime.
Neuroscientist Dr. Robert Love recommends using a talking alarm clock instead. The device says what time it is upon pressing a button, so you can go back to sleep without having to look at any blue light. It’s available on Amazon for under $20.
Medical experts advise keeping your phone away at least three hours before bedtime. The same practice would help late-night TV lovers.
