NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Digital screens cause sleep disturbances because of low levels of melatonin, which regulates the rhythmic rhythm, a new study found.
The blue light from smart phones , combined with the natural hormone produced by our bodies, helps us control sleep cycles.
Melatonin levels usually begin to rise in the evening, stay most of the night, and then fall early in the morning.
But most of us use smart devices before bedtime, as staring at screens changes the rhythm of the biological clock or the body's internal clock.
"Sleep is very important for the regeneration of many functions in our body, and blue light reduces the quality of sleep," said Dr. Lisa Osterin, a leading author at the University of Houston.
It should be noted that the problem of insomnia is very common and is believed to have a particular effect on the elderly.
The lack of regular sleep is associated with the risk of depression, obesity, heart attacks, stroke and diabetes, and reduces life expectancy.
read more
Stickers Smart stickers reveal physical attacks and prevent them immediately
The researchers asked 22 participants, ages 17 to 42, to wear glasses that mask short wavelengths before 3 hours of sleep, for two weeks, while still using digital devices.
The results showed a 58% increase in melatonin levels at night. Osterin says that highlighting the need to stop using phones before bedtime can produce an effective result.
The artificial blue light, our light receptors activate the "retinal neurons" (ipRGCs), inhibits melatonin.
Experts recommend the use of anti-reflective lenses, to reduce the effect of artificial light at night.
Some devices include the Night Mode feature, which limits exposure to blue light, helping to solve the problem.
It is worth mentioning that the levels of melatonin naturally decreases with age, and the human body, during the short days of the winter months, the hormone either earlier or later than the usual day.
This change can lead to symptoms of emotional distress (SAD), or depression in the winter.