Can Cell Phones Give You Insomnia?

A study suggests that using a cell phone before going to bed could cause insomnia, headaches and confusion. It can also cut your amount of deep sleep, interfering with your body’s ability to refresh itself.

35 men and 36 women were exposed either to radiation equivalent to that received when using a cell phone, or given “sham” exposure as an experimental control. The ones who were actually exposed to radiation took longer to enter the deeper stages of sleep, and spent less time in the deepest one.

Researcher Professor Bengt Arnetz said that, “The study strongly suggests that mobile phone use is associated with specific changes in the areas of the brain responsible for activating and coordinating the stress system.”

The radiation may also disrupt production of the hormone melatonin, which controls your body’s internal rhythms.

Sources:
BBC News January 21, 2008

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