“I felt kind of depressed”… When I watch TV right before going to sleep, I lose my senses without realizing it.

There are quite a few people who watch TV right before going to bed. For people who watch TV while lying on the sofa or in bed and try to fall asleep, the sound and blinking lights from the TV are a lullaby. Wouldn’t these habits affect your health?

The health media ‘Health Digest’ reported that occasionally dozing off with the TV on is not a cause for concern, but using the sound of the TV as a lullaby to fall asleep can harm one’s mental health.

The reason why watching TV before bed is not recommended is because the blue light from the TV screen mimics the effect the sun’s natural light has on the mind. In other words, in addition to images and sounds, the blue light emitted by TVs can disrupt circadian rhythms. In fact, according to a study published in Chronobiology International in 2017, exposure to blue light at night decreased work performance in the morning.

“Exposure to artificial light at night can lead to weight gain, metabolic problems and sleep deprivation,” says psychologist Dr Alexandra Stratiner. “This could be damaged,” he said.

He added, “Elderly people are especially prone to problems with memory and attention due to a disruption in their circadian rhythm.” Ultimately, watching TV before bed can reset your circadian rhythm and lead to sleep problems such as insomnia. It can also worsen depression and related diseases.

Some people cannot fall asleep if their surroundings are too quiet. “For these people, white noise may be a good alternative,” Dr. Stratiner said. He also said, “If you can’t avoid the temptation of watching TV before bed, you can start by setting a timer to slowly break the habit of watching TV before bed.”