Sleeping disorders: social media influence teenagers' sleep

Tablets and smart phones increase sleeping disorders amongst teenagers. A study in Finland, led by Erkki Kronholm, revealed one fifth of the teenagers nod off in the classroom, leading to worse school results.

The past twenty years the amount of youngsters with a sleeping disorder has doubled. Twenty percent of the girls and ten percent of the boys suffers from chronic fatigue.

Wrong-doers are smart phones, tablets, television and computers.

The exposure to screens is still increasing, leading to problems as restless minds and the blocked production of sleeping hormone melatonin by the brain. The bright, blue light of I pads and I phones seems to be even worse than the light of digital television. The closer one sits in front of a phone, laptop or tablet, the worse the sleeping rhythm will be.

These sleeping disorders are noted amongst teenagers and adults, who all suffer from social jetlag during the week end caused by the built up sleeping shortage during the week. In the week end they then tend to sleep in too long, which leads to a fragmented sleep and intense, energy costing dreaming. The last sleeping cycles can not provide a deep sleep, which is essential for physical recuperation.

The more time one spends in front of any screen, the worse one will sleep. The screen time right before going to bed seems to be the most crucial indicator for sleeping disorders.

In any case teenagers are more vulnerable to sleeping disorders because their hormonal imbalance and puberty influences the production of melatonin.

Where an adult needs seven and a half to eight hours of sleep, a child needs between eight and nine. During sleep, muscles relax and responsiveness to external stimuli decreases. Energy is stored, bodily tissues are allowed to grow. The sleep cycle takes place in five stages: four non-REM and the last REM stage, in which dreams occur and memory is thought to be organized.

Sleeping disorders have a severe impact on daily functioning, increase the risks of mental and physical problems such as obesitas and diabetes. Touchiness can easily evolve towards anxiety disorders and depression.

Experts advise to put out all screens one and a half hour before bedtime and never to put any screen on the bedside table. A sensible sleeping hygiene is crucial: close the curtains, put out the lights, eliminate all screens.