Study: iPad Usage Before Bed Has Major Impact on Sleep
A study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), found reading on an electronic device before bed makes your sleep measurably worse, verses reading a paper book under a dim light.
According to the five-day study, people using an iPad at night causes their body to produce fifty-five percent less melatonin.
Also, after turning off the lights, including their iPad, it took the participants an additional ten minutes to fall asleep. When they finally did fall asleep, they had less REM sleep during the night.
The next morning, the electronic device readers felt sleepier and it was "hours longer" before they began to feel alert. The book readers quickly felt more alert immediately upon waking up.
The next night, when it was time for bed, the circadian clocks of the iPad readers were delayed by more than ninety minutes. They began to feel tired an hour and a half later than normal, due to being exposed to the iPad blue light the previous night.
Each person was tested with both an iPad as well as reading a book. The paper books did not limit melatonin production or cause participants to feel groggy the next day.
Does bright blue light from electronic devices impact your sleep at night?
Note: Melatonin is a hormone. It has many functions in your body, including helping you sleep. It's also an anti-inflammatory, known to suppress the growth of cancer cells.
According to the five-day study, people using an iPad at night causes their body to produce fifty-five percent less melatonin.
Also, after turning off the lights, including their iPad, it took the participants an additional ten minutes to fall asleep. When they finally did fall asleep, they had less REM sleep during the night.
The next morning, the electronic device readers felt sleepier and it was "hours longer" before they began to feel alert. The book readers quickly felt more alert immediately upon waking up.
The next night, when it was time for bed, the circadian clocks of the iPad readers were delayed by more than ninety minutes. They began to feel tired an hour and a half later than normal, due to being exposed to the iPad blue light the previous night.
Each person was tested with both an iPad as well as reading a book. The paper books did not limit melatonin production or cause participants to feel groggy the next day.
Does bright blue light from electronic devices impact your sleep at night?
Note: Melatonin is a hormone. It has many functions in your body, including helping you sleep. It's also an anti-inflammatory, known to suppress the growth of cancer cells.