Banish Smartphones and Computers From Bedroom To Get A Good Sleep, Say Scientists

Health experts have warned for years watching television before bed is bad for sleep.

But now researchers say other gadgets like tablets, smartphones and mp3 players should also be banished from the bedroom because they are having a detrimental impact on health and wellbeing.

More and more people are taking their tablets to bed with them to surf the web, check Facebook or email before switching off the light.

But a study of teenagers found that those who used a computer in the hour before bedtime were nearly three times as likely to get less than five hours sleep.

Using a mobile phone before bed also nearly double the risk of having a poor sleep.

And the longer a teen spends on screen time throughout the day before going to bed, the worse quality sleep they are likely to have.

The researchers say it is time to update recommendations on the healthy use of electronic devices, and extend them to the latest technology, such as tablets and smartphones, say the researchers.

The study looked at 10,000 16 to 19 year olds in Norway. Almost all said they used one or more electronic devices shortly before going to bed.