An Easy Smartphone Hack to Improve Your Health

By Stepy Kamei

The rise of smartphone usage has been beneficial in many ways. It's easier than ever to connect with our friends and loved ones; find directions and hail cabs so much more quickly; and even track our fitness goals. Still, many healthcare experts aren't fully impressed. In fact, there have been numerous studies that show how smartphone usage is actually damaging our health in some ways. From straining our necks to look down at our phones for long periods of time, to blocking out face-to-face interactions in favor of digital ones, it seems the learning curve for using technology without sacrificing our physical and mental health can be steep at times. One of the more problematic aspects of cell phone usage lies in how it can disrupt our sleeping patterns. If there's one thing you need to know about your health and wellness, it's that when the body doesn't get the rest it needs, many other health issues may arise as a result. Basically, sleep is extremely important -- so anything that may disrupt it, is a major issue that needs to be addressed.

How Do Cell Phones Impact Our Sleep 

Cell phones emit a specific type of light, known in the medical community as "blue light." When you look at your phone screen for too long right before bed, this light can actually disrupt the body's natural circadian rhythms. These are what signal to your body and brain when it's time to be asleep, and when it's time to wake up. Generally speaking, the circadian rhythm is biologically wired to follow the rising and setting of the sun. Light plays a huge factor into the process. So, looking at blue light while it's dark outside can actually trick your brain into thinking it needs to be awake, which can lead to conditions such as insomnia or poor quality sleep throughout the night. This is where it's good to utilize your phone's "dark mode" ability.

What Can Dark Mode or Night Mode Do to Help?

"Dark mode" or "night mode" simply reduces the amount of blue light and brightness coming from the screen of your phone, not to mention other electronics as well. Exposing yourself too much to bright blue light is simply not good for your circadian clock. Ideally, health experts would prefer you didn't look at your phone at all in the three or so hours before bed. More realistically, however, it's better to enable dark mode on your phone (and laptop, if necessary), so you can start allowing for your body to naturally get sleepy.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Denton, Tex.