Six reasons why you will never sleep with your phone under the pillow again

The reality of sleeping with your cellphone under your pillow and how it affects your health.

Do you sleep with your phone under your pillow? In reality, this is dangerous for your health, both physical and mental.

It has become fashionable, especially amongst young people, to have their phones with them while they sleep. Generally, under the pillow seems like the best place to put the phone because it’s within easy reach when it rings. However, what is unknown to a lot of people is that sleeping with your phone close to you can be hazardous to your health as recommended by various studies and research.

1.      CANCER RISK

An earlier study by the National Library of Medicine highlighted the association between cancer risk and cell phones. Also, the University of California–Berkeley proved that there is a correlation between heavy phone use and an increased risk for gliomas- brain cancer.

2.      PHONE CAN CATCH FIRE

This is because of a phenomenon called heating. While your phone is charging, the internal battery heats up. It gets hotter when you use it while charging. This can damage the phone’s internal components, making it vulnerable to fire.

Due to your phone being under your pillow, it does not allow for the heat to escape. Thus traps the heat under the pillow, and the temperature can increase therefore endagering you and your phone.

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3.      FEEL TIRED IN THE MORNING

You may manage to get some sleep, but you may wake up tired and stressed due to lack of adequate rest and sleep that your body needs. Using a cell phone before bed (or even in bed) can affect your REM sleep or restful sleep.

4.      NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH

The study conducted by the National Institutes of Health shows that when you sleep, your body raises the level of cortisol, a stress hormone. It also puts you at risk for depression and anxiety. Excessive use of mobile phones can be harmful to your body and mind.

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5.      IT CAN DISRUPT YOUR SLEEP

A Harvard Health study shows that exposure to the blue light from your phone can interfere with your body’s natural sleep cycle. The blue light emitted from screens can suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep. This can make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.

6.      RISK OF WEIGHT GAIN

The link between sleep deprivation and weight gain is well documented. When you don’t get enough sleep, hormones that control appetite, including ghrelin and leptin become out of balance. Also, the study, published by the University of Tsukuba in Japan, found that sleeping with the phone on the pillow can lead to obesity as people eat more during the day to lose energy. Weight gain makes too affects our health negatively as it also weakens our immune system, making us more susceptible to diseases.

There are many reasons people choose to sleep with their phones under the pillow, but it is never a good idea because there are many risks associated with it as proven but multiple studies.