Against insomnia, banish this bad reflex, science confirms!

Against insomnia, banish this bad reflex, science confirms!

A US study highlights the harmful role of cell phones and clock radios in the mechanisms of insomnia. Checking the time during the night can exacerbate sleep problems.

We’ve experienced all of this. Hours pass into an endless night without sleep. According to data from Public Health France, 1 of 2 French She declares that she suffers from occasional insomnia and 20% from chronic insomnia. This affection is really deactivation It affects the ability to work or perform common life tasks. Numerous studies Already established a clear link between lack of sleep and depressionsome Cardiovascular disease Even back pain.

To understand Causes of insomnia It is a challenge that mobilizes many scientists. They provoke fatigue, nocturnal asthma, or even hyperthyroidism. But in the US, researchers from Indiana University point to an unlikely official, the “sleep” blocker that invited us all into our rooms: clock radio. via study Posted May 16, they point to the obvious role hours Our laptops and devices that display the time in general. The latter plays a role in the mechanisms of insomnia and the regular intake of sleeping pills. Check the time When you can’t sleep It would make the situation worse.

Infernal number

In this way, the conclusion seems obvious. But it still needs to be established scientifically and quantitatively. To achieve this, clinical psychologist Spencer Dawson’s team looked at data on sleep approx 5000 patients who completed a survey on nocturnal habits. The result is clear: the vast majority of patients with insomnia who take medication to sleep usually are Watch the time During the night. “People worry about not getting enough sleep, and then start estimating how long it will take them to get back to sleep and when they should get up.”explains the head of the study.

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This bad reflex Thus causing stress that is anxiety Which exacerbates the situation. “We found that time-monitoring behavior has a primary effect on sleeping pill use, exacerbating symptoms of insomnia.”Spencer Dawson adds.

Cover watches, keep phones away

In addition to countdown stress, the study highlights the effects of frustration. The concern of not getting enough rest is combined nervousness That situation causes in patients. Still, these two factors interfered a bit more with sleep. that it vicious circle. Thus, in their conclusions, the researchers recommended addressing anxiety and feelings of frustration through cognitive restructuring or emotional processing.

They also believe that more research is needed into the effects of “watching time” with larger groups of patients being followed over several years. wait for, They recommend a simple gesture Cover the watch, dispose of the smartwatch, or simply put the phone away Not checking the time. “I never subjugate myself to watches: watches are for a man, not a man for watches.”François Rabelais wrote in his time.

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