Health: here’s why you shouldn’t fall asleep in front of the television

The French sleep more and more badly. The IFOP polling institute stated some time ago that 7 out of 10 French people suffered from sleep disorders. A real scourge that could be caused by falling asleep in front of the television, a harmful habit on sleep. A study has looked into this question. Decryption.

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The number of hours of sleep varies from person to person. Nevertheless, you would need to sleep about 6 to 9 hours on average to be in good shape. However, the French sleep badly. On March 18, on the occasion of sleep day, an IFOP study stated that 7 out of 10 French people admitted to suffering from sleep disorders. A phenomenon that was not limited only to France, since worldwide only 5% of respondents believe they get enough sleep. But where does this difficulty in falling asleep come from? According to a recent study relayed by The Sun, the problem may result from television. Indeed, falling asleep in front of it could have a negative impact on falling asleep, but also on health.

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Falling asleep in front of the TV can have adverse health effects

Many people have got into the habit of falling asleep in front of the television at night. If at first glance the ambient sound is a lullaby and could therefore help you fall asleep, the reality is quite different. However, according to health professionals, it would be inadvisable to fall asleep in front of a screen. A recent study from Northwestern University School of Medicine was published by The Sun. Sleeping with the television on has been shown to have adverse health effects, according to research. Indeed, the main problem with television would be the light it emits. Even the slightest ambient light during sleep can negatively affect cardiovascular function, scientists say. To reach this conclusion, during the study, the sleep of several adults aged 63 to 84 was analyzed. The goal was also to understand the role of light during this phase. Results ? The report is clear: sleeping with even dim light, such as a television, increases people’s blood sugar and heart rate while they sleep. In older people, this exposure would also be linked to “the higher prevalence of diabetes, obesity and hypertension”.

Television: the problem of blue light

Research has shown that light has an impact on whether people fall asleep since the higher the light levels, the later they go to bed and get up. But that’s not the only problem. Indeed, the blue light emanating from the television would greatly disturb sleep. This is what Vanessa Slimani, doctor and director of the Interdisciplinary Sleep Center and Marc Rey, neurologist, president of the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance, explained to the “Madame Figaro” site. According to them, this blue light would be perceived in the same way as daylight by our body: “the screens of the devices are enriched to improve the contrast, but this is similar to the brightness of the morning. Clearly, it is a strong signal that tells the body that it is daytime and that you have to wake up,” explains the expert to our colleagues. The specialist Vanessa Slimani ends up adding that: “this blue light prevents the production of melatonin (the sleep hormone, editor’s note) secreted as soon as the day falls around us”.

Prioritize quiet activities such as reading

To get a good night’s sleep, it is therefore best to turn off the television and all screens one hour before sleeping. It is essential to have a restful activity before falling into the arms of Morpheus. Choose to read or listen to relaxing music, for example, so as not to disturb your sleep. Avoid all thrills, such as watching a horror movie or playing a game. According to experts, before sleeping, it is important to feel safe.

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