How Your Cell Phone Interferes with Your Ability to Sleep

Do you often find yourself scrolling through social media or playing a game on your cell phone before bed? While you might think this mindless action might help you doze off, it actually does more harm than good, especially if you already have trouble getting adequate rest. Let a dentist in Weyauwega explain how these small, handheld devices are negatively impacting your sleep patterns and what you can do to get the optimal amount of shuteye needed to function normally on a daily basis.

Cell Phones and Sleep: Why You’re Not Resting Well

When it comes to determining how well you sleep, it’s helpful to look at a study performed in 2018 where nine adults in their 20s spent five days using an electronic device and five days reading only printed materials before they went to sleep.

After being told they must be awake at 6 a.m. each day, the results showed that participants who used their smartphone, tablet, or another electronic device often appeared less sleepy at bedtime, causing them to stay up much later. However, once they awoke, they were less alert. Throughout the night, their bodies took more time to produce the necessary amounts of melatonin, making it more difficult to fall asleep.

When presented with printed reading material, participants often fell asleep more quickly and woke up more alert and ready for the day ahead.

According to SleepFoundation.org, scientists believe a person’s circadian rhythm can be easily deterred when subjected to the blue light emitted from electronic devices. As a result, melatonin is not immediately released. This causes an individual to stay alert at night, decreasing the time they should be asleep and causing them to wake and feel more fatigued.

Tips to Improve Your Sleep Pattern

If continued use of your cell phone before bed is keeping you from getting the rest you need, there are a few things you can do to change this bad habit, such as:

• Leaving all electronics outside the bedroom (i.e. phone, tablet) and keeping the remote out of reach
• Powering down your electronic devices at least one hour before bed
• Keep a book at your bedside table if you need something to help you fall asleep
• Incorporate exercise to help increase your blood temperature. As it begins to lower, you may feel more tired and likely to fall asleep

If you continue to experience difficulty sleeping or wake feeling tired and extremely fatigued, it could be that you are experiencing sleep apnea in Weyauwega. It is necessary to seek the help of a trusted professional to receive a formal diagnosis, at which you can undergo treatment to improve your sleep patterns and start breathing more easily throughout the night.

About the Author
Caring about the overall well-being of his patients, Dr. William Twohig is dedicated to helping you overcome your sleep apnea problem. Dedicating the last 20 of his 40 years of practicing dentistry and searching for alternative methods to offer his patients, he has worked with specialists to find a way to help people get the sleep they need without the use of a CPAP machine. To find out how he can help you, visit our website or call (920) 867-3101.