by Deborah Rice, ABC News Australia, 1 July 2013
View the two videos:
Hand-held digital devices could lead to rise in sleep disorders
Deborah Rice speaks with Dr Amanda Gamble (ABC News)
The exploding popularity of hand-held digital devices could lead to a big jump in sleep disorders, with experts warning the light emitted from digital screens can have a disturbing effect on the body clock.
Leading Australian researcher Professor Shantha Rajaratnam says there is growing evidence that the night time use of portable digital devices is likely to compound the problems associated with artificial lighting.
"We think that the advent of electric lighting has significantly impacted upon sleep-wake patterns, but with the proliferation of electronic devices that emit light we are expecting that these problems will increase," said Professor Rajatnam, from Monash University's School of Psychology and Psychiatry.