Sleeping with a phone nearby can be unsafe, but many people are unaware of this. If the last thing you do before going to bed is to scroll through your phone (and that’s the first thing you do when you wake up), you subject yourself to the risk of sleeping with a phone.
Sleeping with a phone is not new; it has become a trend, particularly for young people, to sleep with their phones next to their beds to ensure they don’t miss out on any important calls or texts.
The risk of sleeping with a phone close to you can lead to brain damage, especially if kept under the pillow while sleeping. It can also lead to the inability to sleep, waking up several times at night, and even having nightmares.
The World Health Organisation confirmed that electronic devices are typically harmful to the body since they produce toxic effects that can heighten the chances of cancer. There has also been a claim that smartphones and male fertility is linked, which can impact males’ sperm count.
It is against this background that we list five reasons to avoid sleeping with your phone. Keep reading.
Sleep deprivation
We know you don’t want to miss out on important calls or texts, but sleeping with your phone may prompt an irresistible desire to continue checking, refreshing, reading, playing, clicking, responding, and scrolling through your phone.
While doing those activities feels good, stopping and putting the device away may be difficult, leading to a delay in bedtime and lessening total sleep time. Sleep deprivation will then set in as the needed hours to feel rested are not obtained.
Cancer
Cell phones (or smartphones) typically can give off small doses of electromagnetic radiation that can lead to tumours. To bolster that, the World Health Organization in 2011 warned that phone usage is possibly carcinogenic to humans, particularly children, because their scalps and skulls are thinner than adults.
If you’re concerned about cancer risk, minimise calling and increase texting. But if you must make or pick up a call, hold the phone away from your ear or use the earpiece (or speakerphone setting) as possible. Also, avoid sleeping with the phone next to your head.
Increased brain activity
You recalled that smartphones could emit small doses of electromagnetic radiation. Prolonged exposure to this radiation has been proven to disrupt the blood-brain barrier (B.B.B.) – which protects against circulating toxins or pathogens that could cause brain infections – causing albumin leakage in the brain.
Reproduction issues
As a man, over-exposure to electromagnetic radiation can affect your sperm count and decline its quality. Read more on other factors that can affect your sperm count HERE. As a woman, you risk your unborn children having genetic defects during pregnancy.
Risk of fire incident
Many people are fond of sleeping with their phones beneath their pillows. If you do that, listen up; there are incidents of pillows being set on fire due to this practice.
A well-known incident was a Texas teenager who woke up to a burning smell in July 2014. She had placed her smartphone – Samsung Galaxy S4 – beneath her pillow while sleeping and got her sheet and mattress burnt.
A non-Samsung replacement phone battery was to blame since the phone’s instruction manual warns against using incompatible batteries and chargers. But the manual also notes a fire risk if the gadget is covered by bedding or other thick material.
Bottom line
Try leaving your phone in a different room while you sleep. Ensure it’s at least three feet away if you must use it in your room. Though, if you sleep with your phone a bit further away, you may notice little difference.
However, it will help you rest and get sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial in today’s fast-paced environment.
Are you concerned about your health? Click here to book an appointment to speak with a doctor.
