Study warns against using your phone in bed, not because of the blue light but for another dangerous reason

Study warns against using your phone in bed, not because of the blue light but for another dangerous reason

We've long known that it's not a good idea to use your cell phone before bed, because the light from the screen interferes with your sleep patterns. But a new study adds another reason: bacteria.

All kinds of germs find the perfect place to multiply in the warm, humid environment of our bed.

This should not be taken as a joke, because the most abundant bacteria found in the study, if overgrown, can cause skin irritation, respiratory infections, and even sepsis.

- Bed and cell phone bacteria

Previous studies have already told us that more bacteria can be found on a cell phone than on a toilet. This benefit extends to smartwatches as well.

Wearable devices with screens, like the ones mentioned above, are exposed to all sorts of germs. We touch them more than 2,000 times a day, and leave them on all sorts of surfaces, bags, pockets, and more.

Now a study by Mattress Next Day offers revealing data, analyzing dozens of cell phones and smartwatches under a microscope and UV light:

The most common type of bacteria they found was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which comes from cockroach feces.

These bacteria are generally harmless to healthy humans, but the problem is when they are transferred from the cell phone to the bed, or through our hands, or directly because many people sleep with the cell phone under the pillow, or on top of the bed, and that is when they multiply.

According to the study, 74% of Britons and 60% of Britons use their mobile phones before bed, leaving them in contact with sheets or pillows.

Heat and sweat create a warm, moist environment, which is an ideal breeding ground for these bacteria. Not to mention that many people sleep with their mouths open and in contact with the covers or pillows.

In high concentrations, Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause skin irritation, eye infections, diarrhea, and headaches. In people with reduced defenses, it can cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and even sepsis.

The same study warns that 50% of people never clean their cell phones or smart watches. So the solution is simple: clean your phone every day with an alcohol wipe, especially the screen and fingerprint reader. Or with UV light that kills bacteria. And wash the pillowcase once a week.

As we've seen, using your cell phone in bed is a bad idea: bacteria thrive in the warm, damp environment of sheets.