The year 2020 made the French even more addicted to their phones than they already were. We spend more time photographing and tweeting our plates than savoring them and texting than talking to each other "for real".
Text messages and emails are constantly coming in, and you never know when you might need to call someone.
But your should the phone be on or near it while you sleep ? Probably not, and here's why.
It can make it harder to fall asleep
When you use your cell phone, just before going to bed, you don't give your body and brain enough time to relax. Plus, it's so easy to get carried away by the game you're playing, the Twitter feed you're browsing, or the show you're streaming.
It can be difficult to put your phone down after you've engaged with something, whether it's a text chat or another app. By not having your phone nearby while you try to relax and fall asleep, you won't be tempted to reach out and start scrolling mindlessly.
It can interfere with your sleep cycle
By not using your phone right before bed, you also reduce your exposure to blue light. Exposure to blue light so close to bedtime can often interfere with your circadian rhythm.
Essentially, blue light messes up your internal clock by delaying the natural release of melatonin before you fall asleep.
Our circadian rhythms were, and still are, to some extent, closely aligned with sunrise and sunset each day. So naturally, throughout the day, our bodies knew when it was time to wake up and fall asleep.
Smartphones have thrown a wrench into the circadian rhythms of many people, largely because of blue light. Whether you expose yourself to blue light right before bed or when your phone turns on all night with notifications, your sleep cycle will be negatively affected. Chances are, you'll wake up feeling dizzy or sleep deprived.
The best way to reverse the effects of blue light is to ndo not use your phone a few hours before going to bed.
There is a low risk of radiation exposure
There are a lot of people who say cell phones cause cancer. At present, there is not enough definitive scientific evidence to support this claim.
A study conducted by the National Toxicology Program in 1999 exposed rats to high levels of radio frequency radiation from cell phones. They found evidence of tumors, both benign and malignant, in the heart, brain and adrenal glands of the rats tested.
However, FDA says that "nearly 30 years of scientific evidence has not linked exposure to radiofrequency energy from cell phone use to health problems, such as cancer."
Due to conflicting scientific studies and information, it is difficult to know what are the best cell phone practices to follow.
Your mobile phone is emitting low levels of non-ionizing radiation , but only when it is in use. The only known side effect of this radiation is heating. Your phone heats up when it has been in use for a while, and if you hold your phone against your head to make a call, surrounding body tissue may heat up as well.
If you are concerned about potential radiation exposure, there are a few things you can do.
- Keep your phone away from you while you sleep.
- If you need to listen to music or a podcast while you sleep, try using headphones or a Bluetooth speaker.
- Try to take hands-free calls and keep your cell phone somewhere other than your pocket.
Widening the distance between you and your cell phone is essential in reducing the small effects that radio frequency radiation can have on you.