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.
