Bedtime cell phone use may disrupt sleep

With an almost limitless amount of information at our fingertips, it's sometimes quite difficult to disengage ourselves from the ultra-connectivity that dominates our modern lives. Even before nodding off at night, we do one last status check on the world. Who won the game? Was that email replied to? Who is that voicemail message from? The trouble is, it may be more than just this last-minute flood of information that's disrupting our sleep. It may actually be the modes of connection themselves.

According to an article in Fitness Rx magazine, Swedish and American researchers found that electromagnetic radiation from using cell phones before bedtime can cause insomnia, headaches, and confusion. The study cited by Fitness Rx, which was published in a recent edition of the journal Bioelectromagnetics, suggests that cell phone radiation may interfere with stress-regulating centers in the brain, and may also disrupt the production of the sleep hormone melatonin.

Many experts suggest shutting down electronic distractions at least a half an hour before heading off to bed to help ensure a good night's sleep.