Talk about doomscrolling.
You’ve probably heard that screen time can mess with your sleep — but it turns out, it can mess with a lot more than beauty rest.
Looking at your phone or laptop may also affect your physical health, possibly contributing to obesity, diabetes and cancer, some research suggests.
Previous studies have shown that the blue light emitted from screens can help with focus and attention span during the day — but wreak havoc on sleep.
This artificial light at night disrupts the circadian rhythm, the body’s natural 24-hour cycle that controls when you feel awake and sleepy, production of hormones like melatonin and cortisol and several other bodily functions.
And it seems this disruption could lead to a whole host of health problems beyond eye strain.
Poor sleep from a screen light at night could be linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, since our circadian rhythms regulate how our bodies respond to insulin and produce glucose.
One study even found that those with more exposure had a 50% increased chance of developing diabetes.
Exposure to blue light at nighttime has also been shown to increase the chances of weight gain and obesity, another risk factor for diabetes.
The body’s natural rhythm also controls daily fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate. A messed-up “body clock” can cause cardiovascular issues like high blood pressure, faster heart rate, heart failure and an increased risk of heart disease.
And less time spent looking at screens, especially before bed, could decrease the risk of cancer.
A study looking at the effects of blue light wavelengths found that those who slept with screen lights on had a 1.5 times higher risk for developing breast cancer and a twofold higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
This increased risk of breast cancer in particular could be due to a lack of melatonin.
Blue light from screens suppresses the production of melatonin, which may have anticancer properties. Lowered levels can increase breast cancer and tumor risk.
