Using devices at bedtime can cause several harmful effects. Find out which ones!
The use of cell phones is increasingly common in our daily lives, including in our work routine, as it facilitates communication, access to news and also the exchange of information, or in our leisure routine, for access to music, games, social networks and streaming services, with films and series.
This use has become so common and constant that we often use our cell phones in bed, at bedtime, both to watch and to interact on social media. However, this practice is not entirely correct and many health professionals do not recommend this behavior, which can affect our health. If you have the habit of using your cell phone in bed, find out some reasons to stop now!
Feeling tired
Excessive contact with the cell phone leaves the brain on constant alert, both when sleeping and when waking up. Thus, there is no time for brain functions to be activated gradually, causing a feeling of tiredness throughout the day and also during the night, including during sleep.
It is recommended to turn off your cell phone at least one hour before going to bed. When you wake up, it is best to wait a while before using your cell phone, since exposure to it as soon as you open your eyes can increase your brain's alertness.
Sleep delay
When in contact with the blue light emitted by cell phones, the body's biological clock is altered, as the lighting from the screen directly interferes with the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep, which needs little light to be generated by our body, causing lack of sleep.
Furthermore, using your cell phone at night can also contribute to prolonged insomnia, as it will probably be one of the first devices you consult when you lose sleep, further altering the cycle and harming the brain that is unable to “switch off”.
interrupted sleep
Sleeping with your cell phone next to you can interrupt your sleep, as notifications and links can also make us wake up in a state of alert. If constant, the situation can also cause the sensation of hearing the cell phone ringing or vibrating, even if it is not there, disrupting the sleep cycle, which goes through several stages, known as light sleep and deep sleep, until reaching REM sleep, which is characterized by rapid eye movements, more vivid dreams, involuntary muscle movements, intense brain activity and more. The REM phase is very important for processing memories and learning.
Exposure to blue light and the consequent reduction in the REM phase can negatively interfere with rest and quality sleep time.
Possible contaminations
Cell phones can contain more than 23,000 types of bacteria and can be considered as dirty as a toilet, if not dirtier, since we end up leaving them on various surfaces that can be infected. And no matter how clean your hands are, at some point, when you touch something, your cell phone can become contaminated. Therefore, it is important to keep your cell phone away from your bed, which is a place reserved for rest and well-being and must always be clean, preserving your health.
