3 Reasons To Keep Your Phone Away from the Bed
Ever fall asleep while Insta-scrolling on your smartphoneor purposely leave it on your bed while you snooze? You're not alone 44 of cell phone owners have slept with their phone next to their bed to make sure they didn't miss any crucial calls or texts, according to the Pew Internet Project. But while you may have good intentions, snuggling up to your phone could be hazardous to your health. Here's why, A Texas teen recently woke up to a burning smell. The cause? Her Samsung Galaxy S4, which was under her pillow, had partially melted and it scorched her sheets and mattress, too. More specifically, it seems like a non-Samsung replacement phone battery was to blame the phone's instruction manual warns against using incompatible cell phone batteries and chargers. The manual also notes that there's a risk of a fire if the gadget is covered by bedding or other thick material. Bottom line Stick to phone accessories from the original manufacturer, and don't leave your cell on your bed. Cell phones and tablets, TVs, and other gadgets with LED screens give off what's known as blue lighta type that studies suggest can inhibit the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin and disrupt our circadian rhythms. This may be because blue light emits wavelengths similar to daylight, which can make our bodies think it's daytime, at any time. To fall asleep when you want and need to, power down all electronics two hours before bedtime. Better yet, keep your phone and laptop in another room while you slumber. There's been no research that proves cell phone use causes cancer in fact, the links to any kind of health risk aren't yet clear. In general, cell phones are said to give off such small doses of electromagnetic radiationwhich is also emitted from X-rays and microwaves and can lead to tumor growth in high amountsthat they're perfectly safe to handle. Still, the World Health Organization warned in 2011 that usage may be possibly carcinogenic to humans, especially in children, whose scalps and skulls are thinner than adults', and more vulnerable to radiation. So if you're at all worried about the possible cancer risk, try to text instead of call, hold the phone away from your ear, or use an earpiece or the speakerphone setting as much as possibleand definitely don't sleep with the phone next to your head. More from Health.com, 9 Everyday Sources of Radiation, How to Beat 16 Summer Health Hazards, 11 Surprising Health Benefits of Sleep, Camille Chatterjee is the Deputy Editor of Health magazine.