How Is Your Cell Phone Affecting Your Sleep?

Many people like to lie in bed and scroll through social media before they fall asleep. Are you one of them? If so, you could inadvertently be robbing yourself of high-quality rest. This issue can be particularly noticeable if you have sleep apnea. What exactly is the relationship between cell phone use and sleep quality? This blog post explains.

Phones Emit Blue Light

Phones and other electronic devices, such as tablets and computers, emit a specific type of light known as blue light. During daytime hours, a degree of exposure to blue light is harmless. In fact, it is one of the main types of light produced by the sun! It inhibits the body’s production of melatonin, a sleep hormone, which supports your body’s circadian rhythm and helps you remain alert as you go about your daily activities.

Unfortunately, blue light also has a big downside. Exposure to it late at night may prevent you from falling asleep! Since many people with sleep apnea already find it difficult to get enough rest, exposure to blue light from electronic devices can only make things worse.

Minimize Your Blue Light Exposure

Reducing your exposure to blue light before bedtime may help you fall asleep faster. Here are some tips:

• Stop using electronic devices about an hour before bedtime. Instead, you could listen to a podcast, audio book, or some music. You might also try other relaxing activities, such as putting together a puzzle or knitting.
• Use blue light glasses. Some glasses have an orange tint that cancels out blue light. You can wear them on evenings when you just cannot say no to screen time. (Some devices also have a built-in blue light filter that you can activate.)
• Create a comfy sleep environment. Besides avoiding blue light, there are other things you can do to encourage melatonin production. For example, you can dim the lights in your house, adjust your thermostat to be a little on the cool side, and eat foods that naturally contain melatonin (bananas, fish, and eggs are a few items that you might try).

Do Not Neglect Your Sleep Apnea Treatment

Of course, falling asleep is just one aspect of being able to get enough rest. You should not neglect your sleep apnea treatment, which will help you to go through your entire sleep cycle without disruption. By preventing interruptions in your breathing, it can allow your body to fully benefit from the deeper stages of sleep.

Cell phones and blue light are not bad in themselves, but they can spell trouble for your nightly sleep if you do not take proper precautions! Consider changing your routine so you can enjoy the best rest possible.

Meet the Practice

At Sleep Better Southwest, we provide effective and convenient oral appliance therapy for individuals with sleep apnea. If you have been struggling to feel well-rested, we can evaluate your case and provide guidance on your next steps. To learn more about how we may be able to serve you, contact any of our convenient locations or call our Prescott Valley office at 928-778-4555. We are also proud to serve patients in Sedona and Flagstaff.