It may be hard to stop, but looking at your phone at night is a terrible idea. Smartphone screens emit bright blue light so you can see them even at the sunniest times of day.
But at night, your brain gets confused by that light, as it mimics the brightness of the sun. This causes the brain to stop producing melatonin, a hormone that gives your body the “time to sleep” cues.
Because of this, smartphone light can disrupt your sleep cycle, making it harder to fall and stay asleep — and potentially causing serious health problems along the way.
How exposure to blue light affects your brain and body:
- The disruption to your sleep schedule might leave you distracted and impair your MEMORY the next day
- There’s some evidence that blue light could damage our vision by HARMING THE RETINA over time – though more research is needed
- A poor night’s sleep caused by smartphone light can make it HARDER TO LEARN
- Researchers are investigating whether or not blue light could lead to CATARACTS
- Over the long term, not getting enough sleep can lead to NEUROTOXIN buildup that makes it even harder for you to get good night sleep
- People whose melatonin levels are suppressed and whose body clock are thrown off by light exposure are more prone to DEPRESSION
- By disrupting melatonin and sleep, smartphone light can also mess with the hormones that control hunger, potentially increasing OBESITY RISK
- There is a connection between light exposure at night and the disturbed sleep that come with it and an increased risk of breast and prostate CANCERS
Source:
Nature Neurosciense; Harvard Health Publications; ACS; Sleep Med Rev; American Macular Degeneration Foundation; European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons; JAMA Neurology;
