Technology Sabotaging Sleep? By: Nina Bharadwaj, 2nd Period

     Studies show that about 90% of all Americans typically use some form of technology prior to going to sleep. Even though one may not think about this number as very significant, many officials are beginning to point out how dangerous it is to use electronic devices the time before one decides to sleep. It robs the human of sleep, if it is continuously used every night. A cause for this addictive activity that most Americans do before sleeping is that using electronic devices acts as a mental stimulations. They can cause your body to increase its energy, while it should be winding down. Research has indicated that those who use any electronic device prior to sleeping have more trouble sleeping or receiving a good, refreshing sleep.
     One may think that watching a movie on television is not harmful, but it is proven that the light from a tv screen can keep one awake. Bright lights can hinder one's ability to get a good nights rest because they"suppress the release of melatonin, a hormone that helps your body know when it's time to go to sleep." A solution to deal with the issue of ringtones waking one up is to put all phones on silent, or one can mute noise on their phone and shut off their computer,

These recent studies are really mind blowing because of how much this article relates to me and most of America, as I tend to remain on my phone for a while before attempting to sleep. I had never really thought about a scientific reason that I have always felt the need to stay up and check social media prior to sleeping, but now that I am aware, I will try to be cautious of how often I use technology. It is really frightening how much Americans depend on technology, and this article should strike one with a realization to stop bringing the outside world of social media into their rooms, when it isn't necessary. This should be a warning for all Americans to not take advantage of how technologically advanced society is and to start making sure that one uses their electronic devices in a way that will help, not hinder, them.
Source: http://inhealth.cnn.com/getting-a-good-nights-sleep/are-electronic-devices-sabotaging-your-sleep?did=t1_atftxt&hpt=us_c2