How bad is it really to sleep next to your phone?

No, sleeping next to your phone does not fry your brain. But there are other negative consequences that everyone should be aware of.

There is an opinion that sleeping next to the phone has a negative impact on health. Let's figure out how bad it really is.

You may have ever heard rumors that cell phone radiation causes brain cancer. In this case, sleeping next to your phone is a bad idea. Indeed, dozing off with your cell phone is definitely not the best thing to do. But not because it increases the risk of developing a terrible disease.

According to experts, there is one very good reason why you might want to put your phone away from your bed or sofa.

Cell phones do emit radio frequency (RF) waves in a certain range. The human body is designed in such a way that parts of the head or body located closer to the device can absorb emitted energy and convert it into heat. However, this radiation is not considered dangerous and does not potentially increase the risk of cancer.

Let's delve into physics. Ionizing radiation from X-rays and radon can cause DNA damage and, in turn, increase a person's chances of getting cancer. But cell phones emulate non-ionizing radiation, which does not cause DNA damage, according to the US National Cancer Institute (NCI). And, by the way, mobile phones are not the only source of radio waves in everyday life. According to the NCI, radio frequency radiation is emitted by televisions, radios, satellite dishes, microwave ovens, Wi-Fi routers and many other electrical appliances.

Of course, no one can say for sure whether sleeping with a phone under your pillow increases your risk of developing head or neck cancer. But there is strong evidence that this is not the case. Here's what the experts say: "Extensive meta-analyses have been conducted looking for any evidence that there is a link between cell phones and cancer. But none of the researchers have been able to make a conclusive claim," says Stephanie Weiss, MD, PhD, PhD. Director of Neurological Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. In his opinion, at the moment there is no reason to believe that cell phones cause cancer.

The American Cancer Institute NCI is not alone in its position. Numerous other large organizations have conducted their own studies and concluded that cell phone use, including sleeping next to a cell phone, is safe for health. Including such authoritative organizations as the US Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Federal Communications Commission and others.

Sleeping with your cell phone is really not a good idea. And not just because using your phone at night impairs the quality of your sleep.

You probably know that using a device before bed can make it harder to fall asleep due to the combination of blue light (which suppresses melatonin production) and brain-stimulating content. Plus, having your phone nearby can create even more problems when you doze off.

“A sudden beep, buzz, or other sound coming from your cell phone is enough to wake a person,” says Peter A. Fotinakes, MD, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center in California, USA. "If your phone alerts you to an incoming call or text message, you'll be forced to wake up fully to respond. And if you decide not to answer, you might end up lying awake in bed for a long time wondering who needed you at 2 a.m."

In any case, bedtime has been disrupted, reducing the quality of sleep. According to an October 2018 study by PLOS One, waking up suddenly to the sound of a cell phone can cause you to sleep an average of 48 minutes less than you need.

You may have heard that your phone should be kept at least 1 meter away from a person while sleeping. But there is no scientific evidence to support this theory. However, from a sleep quality standpoint, it's best to keep your phone out of the bedroom altogether. This will eliminate the risk of sudden awakening and unnecessary wakefulness at night.

So how bad is it to sleep next to your phone? In fact, a cell phone is not a deadly weapon that causes cancer. But it can impair the quality of your sleep and affect your activity level and mood the next day. Lack of sleep is more dangerous to health than radiation from a gadget. So don’t be afraid to part with it for the night or turn it off altogether.

And for all questions about cancer, it is better to contact the specialists of OncoCare Clinic 308. Call and make an appointment at the numbers listed below.