Place the phone several feet away from your bed if you’re not going to switch it off.
It has become a trend, especially for young people, to sleep with their phones next to them. And most times, beneath the pillow seems to be the ideal spot to keep the phone as it makes it easy to reach when it rings.
However, what is unknown to many people is that sleeping with your phone close to you can be hazardous to your health.
Smartphones have been proven to emit dangerous radiation, which causes an alteration in the system of specific self–regulating processes, such as our biological clock or cardiac rhythm.
Having our cell phones near us while we sleep can lead to nightmares, inability to sleep, waking up several times at night, etc.
It can even damage your brain.
Furthermore, sleeping with your phone near you can harm your body functions and limit the production of many significant hormones essential for your routine.
As affirmed by World Health Organization: Electronic devices, in general, are bad for the body because they produce toxic effects that can increase the chances of developing cancer.
And to validate this claim, an Australian study has shown that there is an essential relationship between the use of smartphones and sterility in men and reduced sperm quality.
Read on to see some health implications of having your cell phone close to you while you sleep.
It could set your pillow on fire.
Many cell phone users are so attached to their phones that they sleep with them even under their pillow. This habit has led to recorded incidences of pillows being set ablaze.
The most popular of these incidents is the July 2014 teen from Texas who woke up to a burning smell. Her Samsung Galaxy S4 has scorched her sheet and mattress under her pillow.
It is, therefore, advisable to shut down the transceiver of your cell phone by keeping it in “aeroplane mode” while you sleep. Or better still, turn it off because cell phones pump out electromagnetic radiation whenever they’re on.
NB: Most device batteries display a message that there is a risk of fire if kept under bedding. Therefore, it is advisable to turn it off for your safety.
It puts our health at risk due to emitted radiation
Generally, mobile phones emit radiation due to transmission signals around 900MHz.
Keeping cell phones close to the head for prolonged periods can lead to headaches, muscle pains, and other complicated health issues.
Although people tend to keep their phones close to them while they sleep for different reasons, it is better to be safe than sorry.
It could prevent you from sleeping.
LED screens, which include cell phones, tablets, TVs and other gadgets, give off blue light, which studies have suggested impedes the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin and disrupts our circadian rhythms.
Although this is yet unknown, it may be because blue light emits wavelengths similar to daylight, which can deceive our bodies to think that it’s daytime at any time.
It is, therefore, advisable to shut down all electronics two hours before bedtime. And if possible, keep phones and laptops in another room while you sleep.