Printed Books Better than Tablets for Pre-Sleep Reading
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innovatedcaptures/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A new study shows that people who read before bed to help fall asleep would be better served picking up an old-school book than a tablet.
According to the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, the use of light-emitting electronic devices — including tablets, smartphones and others — delays the circadian clock and keeps people awake longer. Further, the use of such devices may also suppress production of melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep.
The study was prompted by a recent survey in which 90 percent of 1,508 Americans surveyed said they use electronics at least a few nights per week within one hour of the time they hope to fall asleep. According to researchers, that very practice could play a big role in causing sleep deficiency.
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