Abstract
The modern digital age and technology are associated with increased use of blue light devices such as hand-held mobile devices and laptops. The digital generation is named to spend most of their lives on screens, either on their phones, laptops or television sets. They spend a good portion of their time at night texting their friends, sharing pictures and other media via various device portfolios such as WhatsApp, browsing the various website on the internet and or watching exciting movie series until late in the night, before retiring to sleep. Studies previously conducted have found that the exposure of blue light from such devices interrupts the comfort of a night’s sleep and impacts the overall health of individuals negatively. Apart from disrupting the normal sleep patterns, continued exposure to blue light has been associated with several health complications such as diabetes, heart diseases and cancer.
Activity
The study involved research that was carried out to investigate the number of people, suffering from irregular sleep patterns while identifying the possible causes of their problem. The primary population targeted by this study included the youths mainly in universities and tertiary institutions. This population was preferred since the individuals had more chances to be affected by the study subject. Moreover, such individuals were considered literate, and therefore it was possible to collect information using the various methods such as the use of questionnaires as well as oral interviews. The following characteristics were included in the study: sex, age, technological status and social background. These characteristics aimed at giving a more precise finding of the population in which the subject problem dominated.
Young girls in colleges and tertiary institutions were considered to be more affected by this problem due to various reasons, such as they're increased social and interactive nature that may force them to extend up to late hours in the night as they interact with their friends and family. The exposure to the blue light from mobile devices was expected to reduce with increase in individual’s age. The study assumes that when people grow older, they get busy and more occupied with their work and careers. They don’t find enough time to spend on their devices in some small conversations and new interactions every day. Moreover, the individual’s technological status and enlightenment were assumed to determine a person’s ability to use the various devices that gave out blue light. People who were more exposed to advanced technology were suspected to be at a higher risk of increased exposure to the blue light. Moreover, an individual’s social and family background was expected to have a significant command on whether such individuals could get access to the blue light devices. Persons from humble backgrounds were supposed to be at a lower risk to the exposure as they might not be able to purchase the expensive smartphone and laptops that emitted the harmful light.
The research was conducted in two major tertiary institutions that were believed to have a higher population that comprised of people from different backgrounds and geographical locations. The institutions were therefore expected to raise an accurate sample that could be used to assess a broader population correctly. The students were selected randomly and were asked to respond to questionnaires that had been drafted previously. The questionnaires interviewed the use of their devices in terms of which devices do they most frequently use, their time of usage, consistency, and purposes for usage. They were also questioned about their sleeping hours and any sleep-related problems experienced by them. They were also interviewed on other issues that couldn’t be addressed well by the questionnaires. The data collected was then compared, analyzed and evaluated to make it easier to draw findings as well as making it easier for presentation purposes.
Analysis
Most students confessed that they experienced sleepless nights while others admitted to suffering irregular sleep patterns. Analysis of the data showed that most of the girls who experienced this problem stayed awake till late hours of the night interacting with their friends while others loved watching movies and browsing various websites on their laptops. Moreover, most male students who were associated with the problem included those who did their online assignments at night from their laptops and desktop computers. Most of those students who confessed to coming from poor backgrounds and who lacked access to most of these devices were not affected by this problem.
Discussion
In the 20th century, most youths have been suffering from lack of sleep and irregular sleeping patterns. Studies have attributed this to the increased sources of blue light that are mostly exposed to such youths. These sources vary from fluorescent bulbs and LEDs, which are substantially preferred as they are energy saving. Besides, they provide better lighting as compare to the incandescent bulbs which have faced several bans since they produce much heat and light that has been associated with eye infections and are greatly discouraged for use by studying students at night. However, the recommended candescent bulbs have come up with their effects, although not as harmful as compared to the incandescent ones. These bulbs are found in almost homestead since they are known for their conservative nature of using energy as well as their efficiency in conserving the same. Most students study at night before engaging with their phones and laptops for the various purposes highlighted. Far from the usefulness and advantages associated with the use of these different blue light sources, there are a number of adverse effects associated with them.
Normal human body systems have circadian rhythms that are concerned and are responsible for the various timings of physiological processes as experienced by individuals. Circadian rhythms are natural biological body clocks set by the amounts and patterns of light and darkness the body is subjected. They are responsible for various physiological habits such as sleeping and feeding patterns, normal brain activity, and hormone production, among others. Different people have different circadian rhythms depending on the light and dark exposures of such persons. However, the average length of the circadian rhythms is 24 and one-quarter hours. People who spend more time and sleep late are characterized by more extended circadian rhythms as compare to those who sleep early, who have circadian rhythms falling short of 24 hours. The sun’s daylight differs from the artificial light in that it maintains and aligns people’s natural clocks to the external environments.
Studies have identified blue light to contain short wavelengths as compared to the natural light such as sun’s light. The shorter wavelengths are believed to suppress the production and secretion of melatonin, which induces sleep, and increases the alertness of the body systems while altering the body’s natural internal clock systems as a set, by the circadian rhythms. Shorter wavelengths such as blue light is a characterized by high-energy visible light. Examples of other short wavelength lights include indigo, blue-green and violet. This often results in the deprivation of sleep and alteration of the body timings for physiological processes such as feeding.
Literature review
The current continued advancements in technology have resulted in both advantages and disadvantages. The evolution of electronic and communication devices such as mobile phones and laptops have contributed significantly to the growth and development of mankind. Communications have been made, and these advancements have bridged the geographical distances. People are now able to share various documents, pictures and other forms of information in the snap of a second. Also, entertainment has been made cheaper, and people can easily access entertainment facilities such as comedy clips and movies from the comfort of their homes.