Do iPads and electric lights disturb sleep?

Conclusion It is certainly possible to reduce your exposure to artificial lights. For example, you could dump your smartphone, give away your iPad, banish television from your home, and refuse to work in any job that involves using a computer. But adopting this kind of luddite lifestyle is probably not to most people's tastes. One proven method of improving your sleep is what is known as "sleep hygiene". This is where you control both physical and environmental factors in order to promote sleep. Examples of good sleep hygiene include: not drinking tea and coffee four hours before bedtime avoiding drinking alcohol or smoking before bed using thick blinds or curtains, or wearing an eye mask if the early morning sunlight or bright streetlamps affect your sleep wearing ear plugs if noise is a problem Read more advice about sleep hygiene. If you have persistent insomnia (more than four weeks), contact your GP for advice. You may require more in-depth "sleep training" counselling, often done using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques. Alternatively, there may be an underlying condition contributing towards your insomnia. Read more about the treatment of insomnia.   Analysis by Bazian. Edited by NHS Choices. Follow Behind the Headlines on Twitter. Links To The Headlines Peering at bright screens after dark could harm health, doctor claims. The Guardian, May 22 2013 Terrible night's sleep? Blame your mobile phone: How exposure t...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Lifestyle/exercise QA articles Source Type: news