Smartphones Cause Sleep Deprivation

Sleep is a basic biological need and helps restore and maintain vital processes. Sleep needs can vary by age and condition. Most teenagers sleep less than the recommended 9 hours a night. Insufficient sleep can have a huge impact on health and productivity throughout the day. Short sleeping patterns and low quality sleep have been linked with mental illness, behavioral problems, and a range of diseases including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues. How often do you get at least 7 hours of sleep?

In a recent study, researchers found that around 40 percent of teenagers sleep less than 7 hours a night. Its prevalence had significantly increased due to increased time spent on social media and electronic devices. People who spent 5 hours a day online were more likely to not sleep enough compared to people who limited their time spent online to an hour each day. Moderate use should be implemented to enable enough time for sleep. Use of screen devices may also interfere with falling asleep. Preliminary data from another group suggested that smartphone addiction could cause a chemical imbalance in the brain. The ratio levels of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) to another important neurotransmitter was off in people who had been diagnosed with smartphone addiction. Given the importance of sleep, moderation of social media use and electronic devices should be considered.

For more information: http://www.sleep-journal.com/article/S1389-9457(17)30350-7/fulltext

Enzo offers a wide variety of products for your Neuroscience research needs. Our platform provides a range of small molecules, antibodies, and proteins. Our SCREEN-WELL® GABAergic ligand library contains 56 ligands including endogenous neurotransmitters, agonists, antagonists, and marketed drugs. The library is ideal for screening or identifying recombinant orphan G protein-coupled receptors, target validation, secondary screening, assay development, and other pharmacological applications.

Never miss a new TechNote!

Receive our TechNotes as soon as they are published.

comments powered by Disqus