Sleeping with your smartphone or connected watch carries several risks.
We knew that using a smartphone in bed was harmful to sleep quality. But researchers have highlighted another risk for those who can’t put their phones down in the evening.
Cell phones and connected watches have become breeding grounds for bacteria. They follow us everywhere throughout the day and accumulate an unimaginable amount of dirt. It is estimated that a person touches their phone, on average, around 2,617 times per day, reports the Daily Mail, which looked at this study devoted to sleep. And our phones contain up to ten times more bacteria than a toilet seat!
After taking samples which were cultured, the study showed that the most present bacteria was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria commonly found in cockroach excrement. And it particularly likes warm and humid atmospheres like that of a bed, an environment very favorable to its development.
This bacterial pathogen can be particularly harmful to people with weakened immune systems. It can also be a common cause of skin irritation, which can lead to significant sleep disturbances, especially for those who sleep with their phone near their head at night or keep their smartwatch on their wrist.
Exposure to the bacteria can cause eye infections, rashes, pus-filled pimples, diarrhea, headaches and other conditions. More serious infections can also affect the most fragile.
To protect against this, be sure to regularly clean your phone with disinfectant wipes, especially areas that come into contact with your face such as the screen. And keep it away from face.
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