Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds
LONDON — People who spend extended time using digital devices in bed are more likely to experience insomnia and reduced sleep duration, according to a large Norwegian study of over 45,000 students.
The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, found that each additional hour of screen use in bed was associated with a 63% higher risk of insomnia and 24 fewer minutes of sleep.
Researchers, however, emphasized that the findings are correlational and do not prove causation.
Dr. Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, lead author of the study, said that the type of screen activity — whether watching videos, browsing, or using social media — did not significantly affect the results.
"Screen use itself is the key factor in sleep disruption," she said.
Participants in the study, aged 18 to 28, were surveyed in 2022 on their bedtime habits.They were asked how often they used screens after going to bed and for how long.Activities included watching TV or movies, using social media, browsing the internet, and gaming. Around 69% of participants said they used social media in addition to other screen-based activities before sleep.Those who reported difficulty falling or staying asleep, early waking, or daytime fatigue at least three times a week for three months were classified as experiencing insomnia.The researchers acknowledged that their findings were based on self-reported data, which may be subject to bias, and stressed that the study should not be generalized to populations outside Norway.Sleep experts say the research adds to growing evidence that screen use can negatively impact sleep. 'It steals both opportunity and the quality of your sleep,' said Joshua Piper, a UK-based sleep clinician at ResMed.He noted that even adjusting screen brightness or enabling night mode may not be enough to counteract the stimulating effects of device use.According to UK health experts, around one in three people experience some form of insomnia. Common culprits include late-night phone use and "doomscrolling."Experts recommend minimizing digital device use before bed, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, and engaging in relaxing activities such as reading, taking a bath, or doing breathing exercises. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and large meals before bedtime can also help.Sleep therapist Dr. Kat Lederle advised getting early morning sunlight exposure to regulate the body's internal clock and suggested winding down with calming, non-stimulating activities.The researchers behind the study called for further long-term research into how screen time affects sleep, including the impact of nighttime notifications and other digital interruptions. — BBC
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UK PM Starmer Says Situation in Gaza ‘Getting Worse by the Day'
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that the situation in Gaza was getting "worse by the day" and that it was important to ensure the Palestinian enclave receives more humanitarian aid urgently. "The situation is intolerable in Gaza, and getting worse by the day," Starmer told reporters in Scotland, when asked whether the UK would take any action over the issue. "Which is why we are working with allies ... to be absolutely clear that humanitarian aid needs to get in at speed and at volumes that it is not getting in at the moment, causing absolute devastation," he added.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
UK PM Starmer says situation in Gaza ‘getting worse by the day'
LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that the situation in Gaza was getting 'worse by the day' and that it was important to ensure the Palestinian enclave receives more humanitarian aid urgently. 'The situation is intolerable in Gaza, and getting worse by the day,' Starmer told reporters in Scotland, when asked whether the UK would take any action over the issue. 'Which is why we are working with allies ... to be absolutely clear that humanitarian aid needs to get in at speed and at volumes that it is not getting in at the moment, causing absolute devastation,' he added.
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
After Extolling Its Virtues on TikTok… Is Cola-Fries Combination Helping Migraine?
Migraine is a painful and disturbing condition that affects many people. So when a hack comes along that says it can 'cure,' or at the very least fend off a migraine, people will try it. While there are medical treatments, there is no cure. Prescription medication can be very effective - but it doesn't always work. For many people there is no simple solution. Some discover their own ways of managing the debilitating pain: blasting the side of their face with a hairdryer, or sitting in a hot bath while wearing an ice pack and drinking a smoothie. But now a new hack has suddenly gone viral - the McMigraine Meal. A simple offering of a full-fat cola and a portion of salty fries seems to be doing the trick for hundreds who've been extolling its virtues on TikTok, according to BBC. If there is any science behind these hacks - what do they do to the body? For Kayleigh Webster, a 27-year-old who has had chronic migraines all her life, it's the salt on the chips that might slow down a migraine attack. 'It can help,' she says cautiously, 'but it's certainly not a cure.' She said, 'Migraine is a complex neurological condition - and it can't be cured by a bit of caffeine, salt and sugar in a fast food meal.' Kayleigh's tried cocktails of different medications, putting her feet in hot water, a flannel at the back of the head, acupuncture, cupping - but they've had little effect. One of the few treatments that has given her relief is medical Botox - having dozens of injections in her head, face and neck. It's still not clear how Botox works for migraine, but it's believed to block powerful pain signals being released from the nerves. Skulls dating back to 3,000 BC show ancient Egyptians even had trouble with migraines - but despite that long history, their exact cause is still unknown. Dr Kay Kennis, a trustee for the Migraine Trust and a GP who specializes in migraines, explained how elements in coke and fries can help stave off a migraine attack. 'The caffeine in the coke can act as a nerve disruptor, it is a substance that affects nerve activity. For some, that disturbance works in a positive way,' Kennis said. 'There are some painkillers that people take for migraines that have caffeine - and some do respond well to that - but we don't fully know why.' But she warned against using caffeinated fizzy drinks like cola as a way of regularly managing migraines. 'Too much caffeine can be a trigger too - and you can end up in a worse situation in the long run,' Kennis said. Other ingredients in a fast food meal, like the salt on the chips, can affect nerve activity, she explains, but adds the effects of sodium on migraines have not been tested. She also warned that not only is fast food often ultra-processed and not conducive to a healthy diet, it can contain high levels of Tyramine, a natural compound commonly found in many foods, which can actually cause severe migraines. Some social media users say the hack does not work. 'There are so many videos online that take advantage of the desperation we all feel," Eloise explains,' said one TikTok user, Eloise Underwood. Prof Peter Goadsby, a neurologist at the NIHR-King's Clinical Research Facility, said research is beginning to produce positive results after years of underfunding. His latest study shows medications known as gepants could block a group of pain receptors in the lead-up to a migraine attack, cutting off the pain before it starts. 'Listen to your body - don't listen to TikTok, that's my advice,' Goadsby said. 'If you can feel the warning signs - yawning, sleepiness, mood change, passing more urine and even craving salt and sugar - listen to your body.'
