RP172 Look Away From the Light

 RP172 Look Away From the Light

Smartphones have changed the way we live. We use them for just about everything now— communicating, learning, laughing, and even getting around our cities. But not all the changes have been good ones. One negative consequence of our smartphone use is that it's breaking havoc on our bodies' natural cycles.

The problem has to do with the blue light given off by smartphones and other electronics. Blue light has a very short wavelength, and produces a higher amount of energy than normal light. Smartphone producers favor it because it matches the brightness of sunlight. This makes it easier to read what's on your smartphone screen in daylight.

But it's this very similarity to sunlight that causes our bodies problems. The human body normally releases a chemical called melatonin after the sun goes down. This chemical tells us it's time to go to sleep. But here's where your smartphone comes in. Imagine a normal evening of riding the bus home, cooking dinner, and then going to bed. You' re probably checking your smartphone the whole time, right? Well, all that blue light is tricking your body into thinking that it's still daytime. As a result, your natural cycle is disturbed and it's harder to get a good night's sleep!

A disturbed sleep cycle has been proven to lead to other health problems. In one study, researchers linked working a night shift to increased chances of diabetes and heart disease.

Luckily, we' re not totally powerless. There are some things we can do to beat blue light. Try to avoid using your smartphone for an hour or two before bed. There are also special glasses you can buy to block out blue light. And you could always just stop using your smartphone altogether. Good luck with that one!