Are You Sleep Deprived? Turn off Your iPad
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, you better keep your iPad out of the bedroom if you need to get up early in the morning. The reason? Light emitted from the bright touchscreen display stimulates your brain telling it to stay alert rather than drift off into unconsciousness.
It isn't just the iPad that has this effect, but all abnormal light sources, including cell phones, televisions, computer screens, and so forth. Sleep experts claim that exposure to abnormal light sources inhibits the secretion of melatonin, a chemical which is secreted in darkness and regulates the sleep-wake cycle by causing drowsiness.
"The take-home lesson is that insomnia and electronics gadgets emitting light should not [be] mixed before bedtime," UCLA Neurology Clinic Director Alon Avidan told the L.A. Times in an email. "Kindle is better for your sleep."
That might sound odd, but unlike the iPad, Amazon's Kindle and other similar ebook readers don't emit light, instead relying on e-ink and e-paper technology. In short, if you're looking for a little late night reading but need to get up early in the morning, you're better off with an ebook reader than an iPad. If you must use a tablet, however, consider turning down the brightness.
It isn't just the iPad that has this effect, but all abnormal light sources, including cell phones, televisions, computer screens, and so forth. Sleep experts claim that exposure to abnormal light sources inhibits the secretion of melatonin, a chemical which is secreted in darkness and regulates the sleep-wake cycle by causing drowsiness.
"The take-home lesson is that insomnia and electronics gadgets emitting light should not [be] mixed before bedtime," UCLA Neurology Clinic Director Alon Avidan told the L.A. Times in an email. "Kindle is better for your sleep."
That might sound odd, but unlike the iPad, Amazon's Kindle and other similar ebook readers don't emit light, instead relying on e-ink and e-paper technology. In short, if you're looking for a little late night reading but need to get up early in the morning, you're better off with an ebook reader than an iPad. If you must use a tablet, however, consider turning down the brightness.
