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Sleeping disorders worsen with technology

Written by: David Castillo on February 12th, 2011

Sleeping disorders worsen with technology | read this item

Sleeping troubles began almost a year ago for Kris Dunn. Like most full-time working moms, Dunn relies on her electronic gadgets, most especially her mobile phone and computer, in order to stay in touch. Now, Dunn has been diagnosed by doctors to be suffering from sleep apnea, which is now causing her sleepless nights as well as breathing problems.

However, despite becoming aware of her disorders, Dunn says that it “didn’t fix everything,” and that she “was still having trouble sleeping.” Dunn went back to her sleep therapist to ask for further advice regarding her sleeping problems. Soon, she found a pattern saying “If I’d be on the computer late I’d be wide awake. I mean it kind of gave me a second wind,” adding that her realization didn’t help especially since she has to wake up as early as 6 am.

Eastern Iowa Sleep Center Dr. Scott Geisler says that Dunn is now one of a growing population of insomniacs who unwittingly worsen their sleeping disorders by using gadgets. Geisler explains that “even that little bit of light you get from a portable device an IPAD or I-phone, smartphone is enough to send messages to your brain that it’s time to wake up.”

Source: KCRG.org