At least 70 million Americans have one of over 80 diagnosable sleep disorders. Examples include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy.
There’s a clear link between technology and sleep. 71.8% of sleep disorder sufferers look at screens before bedtime. 70.2% prefer TV, 59.4% check social media, 32.9% play video games, and 31.8% check emails.
If you’re a part of this statistic and always bring your electronics to bed, you may wonder how it affects you. Read on to learn the answer to that age-old question; “can electronics affect quality sleep?”
Your circadian rhythm controls when and how well you sleep. It runs on a 24-hour cycle triggered by changes in the light around you.
Your body sends out hormones based on the time of day. Melatonin in the evening makes you sleepy while cortisol makes you alert and wake in the day.
Other factors that affect the rhythm include factors such as your:
You may have wondered, “can using a phone before bedtime affect my sleep?” The answer is yes, but you may have also wondered why.
Electronics release blue light, a specific wavelength that isn’t found in many other places. This is dangerous for your sleep for several reasons.
It can trick your body into thinking it’s still daytime. It makes your brain release too much cortisol and not enough melatonin. It also reduces the time you spend in slow-wave and rapid-eye-movement or REM sleep.
There’s data suggesting that blue light can decrease sleep latency, especially for children. It makes them take longer to fall asleep, and they’ll feel tired the next day.
Blue light can even damage your retina, affecting the health of your eyes over time.
The most effective way to get better sleep is to develop a bedtime routine. Set a regular sleep and waking time, no matter what day of the week it is. You can also take a sleep aid at the same time every night.
A proper sleep environment is important as well. Make sure that your bedroom is cool and dark.
If you’ve ever asked “can using a phone in the middle of the night affect my sleep”, the answer is yes. Try to keep it away from your bedside along with your other screens such as your TV or tablet.
If you can’t turn off your screen at night, dim the lights. This will at least make sure you don’t have as much blue light beaming into your face and interrupting your circadian rhythm.
The answer to the question “can electronics affect quality sleep” used to be unclear, but the truth is now obvious. The blue light they emit interrupts your circadian rhythm and sleep cycles.
There are several ways to prevent this issue that go beyond avoiding electronics before bed. You can also make sure to follow a regular sleep schedule and improve your environment.
If these methods fail, try our nighttime sleep aid Jet-Asleep®. It’s one of the most effective ways to get a better, more refreshing rest.
