No, sleeping next to your phone is not brain burning. But there are other negative effects that you should be aware of.
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If you’ve heard rumors that cell phone radiation can cause brain tumors, you might think sleeping next to your cell phone isn’t a good idea. In fact, snoozing next to your device is definitely not the best option. But not because it increases the risk of potential terminal illness.
No, as you may have seen on YouTube and Instagram, it’s not like your phone is giving you headaches at night (or during the day). Still, there’s another very good reason you might want to shove it into another room before the lights go out, according to experts.
Sleeping next to your cell phone increases your cancer risk
cell phoneconductIt emits radiation, and radiation can increase the risk of cancer. However, the radiation emitted by mobile phones is not considered dangerous.
The ionizing radiation emitted by X-rays and radon can damage DNA and increase the chances of developing cancer. But according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the radiation emitted by cell phones is called radiofrequency radiation, which means it’s non-ionizing and doesn’t cause DNA damage. (For the record, it’s not the only source on a daily basis. According to the NCI, high-frequency radiation is emitted from radio and television signals, microwaves, Wi-Fi, and more.)
Of course, no one knows if sleeping with your phone under your pillow increases your risk of cancer, especially of the head and neck. But experts say there’s pretty solid evidence to suggest otherwise.
“A large-scale meta-analysis was performed to look for support for the relationship. [between cell phones and cancer]said Stephanie Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of Neuro-Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. .”
This stance is not unique to NCI. A long list of major organizations that have reviewed the evidence also say that using cell phones (including sleeping next to them) is safe. These include the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Federal Communications Commission.
Other drawbacks to consider
Just because sleeping next to you while charging your phone doesn’t mean you’ll get a brain tumor doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. There is no strong case for cell phone cancer, but there is no shortage of evidence linking nighttime phone use and poor sleep quality.
You probably know that using your phone before bed can make it harder to fall asleep thanks to a combination of melatonin-suppressing blue light and stimulating content. Problems may occur if the is nearby.
said Peter A. Fotinakes, M.D., medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange County, California. “If you want to be notified of incoming calls or text messages, you may have to be fully awake to answer them. Think about whether you’re calling or texting.”
Either way, snooze time is disrupted and sleep quality suffers. It could be less — about 48 minutes less on average.pro swan.
How far away should my cell phone be when I sleep?
You may have heard that you should keep your phone at least 3 feet away while you sleep, but there is no scientific evidence to support this number. However, from a quality sleep standpoint, it might be best to keep your phone completely out of your bedroom so you don’t wake up to notifications or scroll through them.
So is sleeping next to your phone really that bad?
A cell phone on your nightstand is unlikely to be a deadly weapon. “Risk of [cancer] quite low. Radiation doesn’t penetrate deeply,” says Dr. Weiss.
But dozing next to your device can definitely disrupt your sleep and affect your energy levels and mood the next day (and eventually your health). Therefore, it is better to leave it in another room when you go to bed.
