Getting a Good Nights Sleep
There is a growing body of evidence that the light emitted from electronic devices can be harmful to our health as it affects our circadian rhythms. The blue light tricks our bodies into thinking it’s still daylight and therefore delays or prevents us drifting off to sleep. The effect is apparently brought about by the suppression of melatonin – the hormone released by our body to prepare us for sleep at night.
The Evidence
A recent study has found that every minute of extra time spent on the phone equates to around 5 minutes loss of sleep. The research also found that the participants took longer to get off to sleep with greater use.
Chronic Pain and Lifestyle
The importance of a good nights sleep can not be underestimated in relation to general health. Lifestyle factors can have a large influence on a patients symptoms. We often see Chronic pain patients with poor sleep patterns, or lifestyle habits, in particular with persistent spinal pain. So getting a good nights sleep can be one of the first steps in helping to resolve or reduce symptoms.
There are numerous factors that can affect sleep, for example diet (caffeine) and exercise levels. But less smart phone or tablet use in the hour before bed may be the first in the right direction.
David