.jpg?fit=900%2C507)
The study, conducted by the Sleep Health Foundation, found that Australians are getting less sleep than they used too – approximately 7.3 hours instead of 8.25- with the effects of this including health risks such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as obesity. It’s estimated that 20-35% of people are not getting enough sleep, which can become a burden on not just the individual, but the community.
Previous research into the effects of the blue LED light that our screens give off have on our sleeping habits have concluded that two hours of screen time is enough to suppress the normal release of melatonin, which interferes with your body clock. Using a phone before bed also makes it harder to unwind from the day and keeping it in the room can lead to broken sleep due to interruptions from texts, calls and alarms.
Professor Bruck, a psychologist with the Sleep Health Foundation said that people should re-think the way they approach their bed time activities.
“A standard guideline for good sleep is that the bed should be reserved for sleep and intimacy only,” she told the Daily Mail.
“So it was alarming to learn that so many people were using their sleep sanctuary to email, cruise the web and watch movies, all activities that are not conducive to sleep.”
Research by American Academy of Pediatrics found that glasses that blocked the blue light from screens affected the sleep of a group of adolescents. The study found that the glasses that blocked the light caused sleepiness, while clear lens’ that did not block the blue light did not.
To get a better night’s sleep the Sleep Health Foundation recommends removing screens from the bedroom, get a regular sleep routine down pat and aim for 8 hours per night and to limit alcohol and coffee consumption after 2pm.
