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Hypnotherapy London - Malminder Gill MNCIP
Hypnotherapist in London for individuals & corporates
96 Harley Street, Online & Home Visits (UK & Internationally)

In the late 1990s, smartphones started appearing in the market. For many people, it’s the answer to their productivity woes but for some, it marks the beginning of their sleeping problems. Studies have it that exposure to blue light, the light emitted by electronics and energy-saving light bulbs, at night can affect sleep quality and quantity. Published by Hypnosis in London on 21 March 2016, written by Malminder Gill.

Based on statistics, many of us are sleeping less than the previous generations. About 31% of us sleep less than 6 hours at night while 69% reported to have insufficient sleep. This phenomenon happens not because many of us chose to wake up earlier; it has something to do with what we do before we sleep.

While there are several factors that can disrupt normal sleeping patterns, the use of smartphones and other electronic devices contributes to the growing problem on sleep deprivation. These devices have higher concentration of blue light than natural light. Compared to other wavelengths of light, it’s the blue light that is shown to disrupt sleep due to its effect on the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin.

Melatonin and the Human Circadian Rhythm

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain. The secretion of melatonin depends on the light signals received by suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCS). When SCN is stimulated by daylight signals, it triggers the pineal gland to suppress melatonin production. Then, at night time, when SCN stimulation on the pineal gland is less due to absence of daylight signals, melatonin production increases.  

The hormone melatonin plays an important role in sleep. It helps regulate the body’s natural 24-hour clock or the circadian rhythm. It is the circadian rhythm that dictates when we sleep and when we wake up. Hence, disruption in the secretion of melatonin can affect the circadian rhythm and consequently, the quality and quantity of sleep.

Effects of Blue Light on Melatonin Secretion

As early as 1950s, studies have been done to determine the effects of the different wavelength of light to the circadian rhythm. While earlier studies were done on marine organisms, it provided significant insights on how blue light impacts the body’s circadian rhythm.

In a study conducted by Harvard researchers, it was found out that blue light suppresses melatonin production twice as long as the green light. It also has the ability to shift the circadian rhythm twice as long as the green light.[1]

Aside from sleep disruption, studies have also shown that suppression of melatonin production can lead to obesity[2] and cardiovascular disease[3].

Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

The effects of sleep deprivation is well-documented. Several studies have shown that lack of sleep can impair human functioning, affect one’s mood[4], increase the risk of obesity and diabetes[5], impair decision-making ability[6], elevate cortisol level (also known as the stress hormone), and affect one’s performance at work[7].

While these studies do not suggest that you totally abandon your electronic gadgets and other blue light-emitting devices, they show that sleep deprivation has far more negative consequences than just giving you a pounding headache; hence, moderation should be observed when it comes to using electronic devices.

Here are other things you can do to achieve better sleep at night:

1. Avoid looking at bright screens 2-3 hours prior to bedtime

A study shows that two-hour exposure to light from self-luminous electronic displays led to suppression of melatonin by 22%.[8] This can already have a significant impact on one’s ability to sleep. So if you were thinking about getting a TV in your room so that you could relax in bed whilst watching your favourite TV show, then try not to. 

2. Use blue light-blocking device

If you cannot avoid using blue light-emitting devices at night, then using a blue light-blocking filter like Ocushield can be a good alternative. In one study, it shows that subjects wearing optical filter goggles produced almost the same melatonin as those exposed to dim light.[9]

3. Choose well your reading materials

Not all reading devices are created the same. When the team from Harvard Medical School compared the effects of paper books and light-emitting electronic readers on sleep, they found out that it takes longer to sleep with e-readers compared to paper books. The use of backlit e-readers can also lead to poor quality of sleep.

4. Spend time outside during daytime

Exposing yourself to light during daytime do not just boost your ability to sleep but also improves your mood and alertness during the day.

5. Try hypnotherapy

Guided hypnosis sessions from a licensed therapist can help you get better sleep. At Hypnosis in London, I offer hypnotherapy sessions for those who can’t fall asleep due to various reasons, for those who keep waking up at night, and those who have insomnia.

For years, I’ve helped thousands of clients deal with different issues through hypnotherapy. For clients who can’t make it in Harley Street for a one-on-one session, they can benefit from online hypnosis programs. These programs can be supplemented with Skype sessions.

Technology may have made our lives easier today but we shouldn’t make it as an excuse to compromise our health especially when it comes to sleep.

References:
[1] Publications, Harvard. “Blue Light Has A Dark Side – Harvard Health”. Harvard Health. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
[2] “Obesity And Metabolic Syndrome: Association With Chronodisruption, Sleep Deprivation, And Melatonin Suppression”. Annals of Medicine (2016): n. pag. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
[3] Dominguez-Rodriguez, Alberto et al. “Melatonin And Circadian Biology In Human Cardiovascular Disease”. Journal of Pineal Research (2010): no-no. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
[4] Pilcher, June J., and Allen J. Huffcutt. “Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Performance: A Meta-Analysis.”. Sleep: Journal of Sleep Research & Sleep Medicine (1996): n. pag. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
[5] Knutson, Kristen L. et al. “The Metabolic Consequences Of Sleep Deprivation”. Sleep Medicine Reviews 11.3 (2007): 163-178. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
[6] Harrison, Yvonne, and James A. Horne. “The Impact Of Sleep Deprivation On Decision Making: A Review.”. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied 6.3 (2000): 236-249. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
[7] “Resident Performance And Sleep Deprivation: A Review. : Academic Medicine”. LWW. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
[8] “Using Mobile Phones And Tablets Before Bed Could Be Affecting Your Sleep, Warn Scientists – And They Say Teens Are Most At Risk”. Mail Online. N.p., 2012. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
[9] “Blocking Low-Wavelength Light Prevents Nocturnal Melatonin Suppression With No Adverse Effect On Performance During Simulated Shift Work: The Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism: Vol 90, No 5”. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2016): n. pag. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
Image: Miki Yoshihito
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