From checking notifications first thing in the morning to scrolling before bed, smartphones have become an inseparable part of everyday life. But could constant screen exposure and frequent phone checking be affecting the way we focus, sleep and feel?
This leads to this question: are we developing a ‘smartphone brain’? The impact of smartphone use may become particularly noticeable when the device is used late at night. He pointed to an analysis that found every additional hour of daily screen time was associated with approximately three to five minutes less sleep. Greater screen exposure was also associated with delayed bedtime and a higher likelihood of difficulty falling asleep. “This is not necessarily caused by screen light alone. A phone can keep the brain mentally engaged, encourage us to postpone bedtime and create a habit of checking the device whenever we wake up during the night,” he explained. “Headaches are another frequent complaint among people with prolonged screen exposure. I would not attribute every headache to smartphone use.
Dr Gaurav Batra, Principal Consultant, Neurosurgeon , Yashoda Medicity, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, spoke to HT Lifestyle about whether excessive smartphone use could contribute to problems such as fragmented attention, disturbed sleep and recurrent headaches. (Also read: 47-year-old longevity expert trained at Cornell says his arteries are ‘measurably younger’: Here are his 5 daily habits ) He adds, “We come across patients who describe difficulty concentrating, poor sleep and recurrent headaches while also reporting several hours of daily smartphone use.
“Using a phone late at night can delay bedtime, keep the brain engaged and expose the eyes to light at a time when the body should be preparing for sleep,” Dr Batra said. Migraine, tension-type headache, vision problems, dehydration, stress and sleep deprivation can all play a role,” Dr Batra said.
