Are E-Readers Hurting The Quality Of Your Sleep?
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – If you like to curl up with a good book to help you fall asleep at night, you might be hurting your sleep.
CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez says an old-fashioned paper book may actually be better for you.
Bill Beli spends hours on electronic devices-- especially in the evening
"Then I'll go and start looking on my iPad, whether I'm surfing the internet or reading a book," he said.
But new research shows using light-emitting electronic devices in the hours before bedtime could be keeping you awake longer. Harvard researchers had 12 patients read books on an iPad for four hours before bed for five nights. Another group read paper books for five nights. Then they switched reading e-books and paper books.
"Exposure to blue enriched light from these devices shifts our circadian rhythms to a later hour, suppresses the release of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin and makes it more difficult for us to fall asleep," Dr. Charles Czeisler said.
While the study looked at iPads, researchers also measured other e-readers, laptops and cell phones, which all emitted blue light.
Researchers also found people exposed to screens were more sleepy the next morning and were less alert after getting eight hours of sleep.
"One of our major concerns is that sleep deficiency is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease like obesity and diabetes," Dr. Czeisler said.
Beli says the study makes him wonder about his use of devices.
"I'm really not a good sleeper so it's hard for me to tell if it's just the iPad," he said.
Beli says he would consider going back to reading paper books if it meant getting a better night's rest.
And if you are emailing and texting, the mental stimulation on top of the blue light can make matters even worse.
Recent studies show suppressing the hormone melatonin is also linked with increased risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer.
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