TMCnet News
Goodnight, SmartphoneMISSION, Kan., May 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- (Family Features) Checking email or flipping through channels instead of sleeping? Playing video games or browsing social media in bed? If you want to catch some quality ZZZs, you should put down that smartphone. The National Sleep Foundation reports nearly 90 percent of adults sleep with at least one electronic device in their bedroom. However, staring at a screen after 9 p.m. can zap your body of energy, turning you into a zombie the next day. To get a good night's rest, consider shutting off all electronics before climbing into bed. How Electronics Affect Your Sleep Light and darkness affect your body clock. Staring at the blue glow of electronic devices – computers, tablets, televisions, gaming systems and/or smartphones – before bedtime can trick your body into thinking it's still daytime. The artificial light sends messages to the brain to wake up and activates the body. This, in turn, can reset your body clock, delaying your normal sleep cycle. Studies show that staring at bright screens within four hours of bedtime reduces melatonin, a hormone that makes you naturally tired when it's time to sleep. This can cause difficulty when trying to fall asleep, poor qality of sleep or sleep disorders, such as insomnia. In the long run, problems sleeping at night can impact you during the day. Lack of proper sleep can lead to impaired focus at work, trouble remembering, fatigue, stress and even weight gain. Get Off the Grid
If your smartphone is your alarm clock, set your phone to sleep mode (do not disturb function) so all calls and texts will be silenced unless it's an emergency. Be sure to put your phone face down on the nightstand so incoming messages don't wake you up. Power down tonight and don't let your technology keep you from a good night's rest. Find more resources to help you get a better night's rest from Guard Your Health, a health education campaign by the Army National Guard, at guardyourhealth.com. Night Time Stimulants to Avoid
Michael French About Family Features Editorial Syndicate Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160516/368157-INFO
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodnight-smartphone-300269400.html SOURCE Family Features Editorial Syndicate |