New Study: Don't Sleep by a Cell Phone

Cell phones are very popular among all people, especially the twelve to fifteen demographics, who are just starting to receive their first phone. It is exciting for them with all the features including text messaging, taking photos, and even going on the internet. While their parents tell them to go to sleep, many are chitchatting over their phones when they are about to fall asleep. An alarming new study finds that having a cell phone where you sleep may have a very big impact on your sleep.

Aside from the twelve to fifteen year-olds, almost everyone has their cell phone by their side every minute of every hour. The cell phone is even charged on your end table right while you sleep. So when your phone rings and you are in bed, you are able to constantly talk. But a new study says having the cell phone by your side while sleeping, will cause you many problems. The study was conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), used seventy-one men and women between the ages of eighteen and forty-five. Their task was to be exposed to "mobile phone radiation" as they were about to sleep. Many phones have 884 MHz wireless signals, which have been linked to affecting one's sleep. In addition those who use their cell phones before sleep have more headaches and are much more tired.

The study further showed that cell phone radiation exposure during the night while reduce one's ability to recuperate from a stressful and difficult day. The study is disturbing that anyone who sleeps remotely close to a cell phone could have many problems during their routine day. The study did not provide the amount of distance the phone has to be by a person while sleeping to have an adverse affect. The study implies even having it in the room could pose a hazard. This prompted us to ask college students who constantly rely on their cell phones. Vince Cramer, a junior, says the study does not bother him. "I have been sleeping by my phone in my dorm room, which is extremely small. I feel fine. I have to keep my cell phone on at all times so I really do not have much of a choice. But really it does not bother me much."