One of the most significant lifestyle habits impacting our health is being glued to our mobile phones. Did you know that every person spends more than 3 hours a day on a mobile screen, and the lion's share of this time is late-night scrolling? Imagine, when sleep is meant to repair the body and relax the mind, we're engrossed in Instagram reels, WhatsApp chats, or YouTube videos.

This habit may seem simple, but research shows that late-night phone use gradually harms sleep, eyes, brain, hormones, and overall health.
When we look at our phone screens at night, the blue light emitted from them harms our bodies in many ways. It also affects the hormone melatonin, which helps induce sleep. This leads to delayed sleep, frequent interruptions, and a tired feeling upon waking. Furthermore, constant scrolling increases eye strain and also makes us mentally restless, stressed, and anxious.
Dangers of Increased Screen Time
According to a Harvard University report, people who spend excessive screen time before bed have a significantly increased risk of sleep-related disorders, obesity, heart disease, and depression. This means that this nighttime habit not only disrupts sleep but also gradually reduces both our lifespan and health.
Impact on Sleep Quality
When you scroll through your phone at night, the blue light emitted from the screen suppresses the hormone melatonin in the brain. Melatonin is the hormone that signals our body to sleep.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, using your phone 1-2 hours before bedtime delays falling asleep and prevents deep sleep. This continued practice can worsen insomnia. Lack of quality sleep directly impacts daytime energy, mood, and performance.
Risk of Eye Strain
Blue light emitted from phones is considered harmful to the eyes. Research shows that staring at screens late into the night can cause digital eye strain. This can lead to eye irritation, dryness, blurred vision, and headaches.
If this habit continues for a long time, retinal cells can be affected, leading to premature macular degeneration, a condition that can cause vision loss.

Risk of Obesity
When you use your phone late into the night, your sleep time decreases. Lack of sleep directly impacts hormonal balance. According to studies, sleep deprivation increases ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and decreases leptin (the hormone that signals fullness). Consequently, people who use their phones late into the night tend to consume more calories the next day and gradually gain weight.
According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, lack of sleep and screen time are major causes of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
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