{"id":12,"date":"2019-03-08T22:23:40","date_gmt":"2019-03-08T22:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepsnoringtmj.com\/blog\/?p=12"},"modified":"2019-03-29T15:01:35","modified_gmt":"2019-03-29T15:01:35","slug":"how-nighttime-use-devices-hurt-sleep-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/08\/how-nighttime-use-devices-hurt-sleep-science\/","title":{"rendered":"How Nighttime Use of Devices Hurts Rest, According to Sleep Science"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve all been guilty of using our devices just a little bit\ntoo often. But did you know that by using your phone, tablet, computer or even\nyour television right before you go to bed can negatively affect the quality of\nyour sleep? According to sleep science, we can prove this to be the case. To\nlearn the details on \u201cblue light\u201d and how this can affect you and your family\u2019s\nsleep schedule, you\u2019ll want to keep reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Blue Light?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Blue light is a specific wavelength of light that\u2019s\ntypically emitted from electronic devices. It\u2019s meant to make what\u2019s visible on\nyour device easy to view, but this function comes at a price. When viewed at\nnight for long periods of time, it can confuse the brain into thinking that it\u2019s\nstill daytime when in reality your body should be relaxing and getting ready\nfor bed. While there are apps for certain devices that work to mitigate this\nblue light, it\u2019s not the only reason you should ditch your device before\ncatching some shut-eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devices Affect Melatonin Levels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, blue light can actually suppress melatonin levels in\nyour body. Melatonin is a hormone that\u2019s specifically intended to control your\nsleep and wake cycle, also known as your circadian rhythm. The less melatonin\nyou have, the more difficult it becomes for you to get to sleep. Most Americans\nare willing to admit they use their device as they\u2019re getting ready for bed,\nbut if you find yourself tossing and turning on a regular basis, it may be time\nto go technology-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to do this is to discontinue use of a device 30\nminutes prior to going to sleep. You can also remove devices from your bedroom\nentirely to promote a sleep-friendly environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They Promote Brain Activity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a particularly busy individual, you may find it difficult\nto avoid reading work emails or an article that\u2019s been sitting on your browser\nfor a while now. The problem with these tasks is that they stimulate brain\nactivity, which is not something you want when you intend on sleeping in the\nnear future. Instead, consider reading a book or listening to music to help you\nunwind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re Constantly Chiming<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to use your cell phone for it to disrupt your\nsleep. While blue light is considerably more harmful, having a phone chime or\nmake sounds as you try to get to sleep can be disruptive enough to keep you\nawake or even wake you up in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you rely on your phone as an alarm, purchase a dedicated\nalarm clock instead. If you have children, make sure that they aren\u2019t spending time\nin bed using their phone. Getting enough sleep is important regardless of your\nage, but getting enough sleep at a young age is especially important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for more tips on getting a better night\u2019s sleep? Are\nyou struggling to get enough sleep despite taking on better habits? Schedule an\nappointment with a sleep dentist today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Mitch Conditt<\/a>\nearned his DDS degree from the Baylor College of Dentistry. As part of his continuing\neducation, he\u2019s been mentored by world renowned experts in the field of sleep-disordered\nbreathing. This makes him fully equipped to treat a wide array of sleep\ndisorders. To learn more about his practice, you can contact him through his website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve all been guilty of using our devices just a little bit too often. But did you know that by using your phone, tablet, computer or even your television right before you go to bed can negatively affect the quality of your sleep? According to sleep science, we can prove this to be the case. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12\/revisions\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fortworthsnoringandsleepcenter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}