"please keep me updated about oximeters "
Sleep Apnea Forum Bringing Power to the Patient
New? Free Sign Up
Then check our Welcome Center to a Community Caring about Sleep Apnea diagnosis and Sleep Apnea treatment:
CPAP machines, Sleep Apnea surgery and dental appliances.
CPAP Supplies
Latest Activity
Computers WILL Impair Your Ability To Sleep!
I'm very new to this site so forgive me if this has already been discussed but it is too important to not share. I have discovered, if I get on my computer for any amount of time at all 3 -4 hours before bed, it will dramatically screw up my ability to sleep! When I researched this, I discovered all kinds of websites validating this. If I get on the computer at night, I'm lucky if I stay asleep 3-4 hours. If I don't get on the computer at night, I'm out for at least seven hours with zero nighttime trips to the bathroom..
It seems the blue wave light emitted from the computer monitor will really interfere with your brain's natural sleep mechanisms.
I WAS looking to buy a Kindle but I'm postponing this purchase until I find proof that this device will not impair my sleep like a computer monitor does.
I even tried wearing tinted glasses while on the computer in the evening. Didn't help. So now I do all my computer stuff in the wee hours of the morning before I go to work. If you want to look it up yourself just google "computer monitors interfering with sleep". You'll get dozens of web pages to view.
Hope this helps someone.
Views: 1734
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by 99 on
-
the older the screen the more radiation that comes off of it and dust in help increases or magnify the radiation
i had a very large screen but was ill every time i used it so i sold it for the same price i had paid for it
keep your screen dust free
-
Permalink Reply by MZH on
-
OK, I looked at the software description and it says it brightens the screen as the sun rises and dims as the sun sets. It doesn't mention blue light anywhere. Am I missing it?
-
-
I just put on my amber sunglasses - the kind with amber on the sides too - that are supposed to be like the HDs. They are very comfy for computer work and the words are easier for me to see. Everything is easy to read with the ambers. I bought the last couple pairs at Walmart. $9.99 I think. My nest pair of every day glasses are going to have an amber tint. My ophthalmologist actually suggested this to me for the next time I buy glasses.
-
Permalink Reply by Kevin Barthelemy on
-
I find this interesting, but so far, this thread is lacking in actual science. Therefore, I've begun to search for reliable information on the subject. Personally, I find it much easier to get to sleep, if I have the TV on. I'm bipolar, and tend to want external stimuli to reduce racing thoughts (especially the negative ones), so you certainly can't go by what works for me. Also, a far back as I can recall, I've always been at my best at night, and when I have no fixed schedule, I generally go to sleep between midnight and 3am.
So far, the studies I've found that support this, seem to be very small (statistically insignificant sample sizes), and tend also to be more than a little subjective.
However, I did find a Danish study on PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21886359), which relates to this subject. I believe that they have a sufficiently large sample ("970 persons aged 30 to 60 years of age drawn from a sample randomly selected from the background population"), and sufficiently rigorous methodology, to be of some use. Their focus was on the effects of lens aging (reduced transmission of light, and yellowing of the lens), so it neither directly supports, nor refutes the position that blocking blue light will help you sleep. Their conclusion is that "Filtration of blue light by the aging lens was significantly associated with an increased risk of sleep disturbances."
Looks like not getting enough blue light can cause sleep disturbances. This is not to say that the reducing blue light is without merit, but to my mind, this needs far more research to nail it down properly. You guys go ahead and experiment without me, as I'll be on my computer, or watching TV, until I go to sleep...without a problem.
-
-
I assume that your concern is for "x-rays", yes?
"...the manufacturers of CRT video monitors who sell their monitors in the United States are required to test their designs and certify that they will not emit significant x radiation (more than 0.5 mR/hr) with any one component or circuit failure and all the controls adjusted to maximize x radiation"
"LCD monitors and Plasma monitors are not considered subject to the standard because they have no potential for emitting x radiation."
http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q3750.html
Dust wouldn't affect the x radiation levels in any case. As to other radiation, you need to keep in mind that light, and radio frequency radiation, will be emitted by any monitor. No hazard to be found, with any CRT, LCD, LED, Plasma, or whatever sort of monitor you may have.
99 said:the older the screen the more radiation that comes off of it and dust in help increases or magnify the radiation
i had a very large screen but was ill every time i used it so i sold it for the same price i had paid for it
keep your screen dust free
-
-
Nope, you're not missing it. It isn't there. The software simply adjusts the light levels automatically, which you can easily do as needed, without the software.
Marcia Herman said:OK, I looked at the software description and it says it brightens the screen as the sun rises and dims as the sun sets. It doesn't mention blue light anywhere. Am I missing it?
-
-
Glad to help!
ZolliStar said:Thanks, Jay. I just downloaded this.
Jay Polatnick said:I experiment with this Computer Monitor dimming software and it seems to help a bit.
-
-
Well, I used the amber sunglasses last night (not the clip-ons; they don't seem as good as over-the-glasses ones I used). I slept better than I have in quite some time. I hope it continues!
-
Permalink Reply by ZolliStar on
-
I turned off my computer by 9:00 pm last night -- couldn't part with it any earlier ;-) -- and went to bed a little earlier than usual (midnight) because...I was actually sleepy. Wow.
And, yes, I slept a bit better.
On the other hand, I did imbibe. Tonight, I'm turning off the 'puter by 9:00 pm and plan to be abstinent. The grand experiment will continue....
-
-
Sorry all I forgot to check back last night to see if any questions. But I see the computer download was reposted, thank you! The program dims and brightens the blue light in response to the sunrise and sunset. You can disable or change the program if you need to or if you are a 2nd or 3rd shifter and have a different sleep schedule than the daytimers.
Here is a simple slide show fromWebMD that gives great tips for setting up a successful sleep pattern: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-benefits-10/slideshow-sl...
Effects of light on Bipolar: http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/LightDark.htm
Effects of lack of Blue Light and sleep in aging population:http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/resources/news/enews/Apr05/general245.html Seniors may need more Blue light during waking hours.
F.Lux info on Blue Light: http://stereopsis.com/flux/research.html Flux is the program that I have on my computer
SOME GREAT SITES FOR MELATONIN:
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/circadian-rhythm-disorders/circadian-...
http://www.springerlink.com/content/tx86nj3u14mh81l8/
http://www.cmse.ch/pdf/colloque_14_octobre/6_approche%20troubles%20...
http://www.acep.org/content.aspx?id=30560
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/dna/clockgenes/
http://www.encognitive.com/files/A%20shot%20in%20the%20dark:%20mela...
There is a bunch of information here, and some of it is conflicting. This is relatively new thinking for most doctors and more research needs to be done. Best thing you can do is try to experiment with some of the possibilities and see what works for you. There is much more out there, and you can google until you are on overload, but try to pick just what is pertinent to your situation to keep from being overwhelmed.
For the contributor with bi-polar, I understand what you are going through. My daughter and I both have this issue, but a very mild case. We seem to be more affected by Seasonal and Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder, which will irratate us into a hormone imbalance that then turns us manic or depressive. I would talk to your doctor about the possibility of light therapy to see if it could help you. You are probably a super sensitive person as we are and any small trigger can blow up on us if we are not careful.
Good luck all, I hope this info can help!
Sherry
© 2024 Created by The SleepGuide Crew.
Powered by
