Scientists issue urgent warning about using your phone in bed
Doomscrolling on social media before falling asleep is a bad habit that many of us would like to kick.
But scientists are now warning that using your phone in bed could hurt more than just your sleep patterns.
According to research sponsored by MattressNextDay, your phone may contain harmful bacteria commonly found in cockroach feces.
Coming into contact with these germs can lead to skin rashes, pneumonia and even blood poisoning in vulnerable people.
Worse still, scientists warn that the warm, moist environment of your bed is the perfect “Petris dish” for this pathogen to grow and spread.
Researchers have found another reason to avoid scrolling on your phone at night, as they reveal that your device could harbor bacteria commonly found in cockroach feces (stock image)
Researchers have taken smartphones to reveal they contain large amounts of the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can be harmful
With the average person touching their phone an estimated 2,617 times a day, it’s no wonder that our devices can quickly become extremely unsanitary.
Previous research has shown that the buttons on your smartphone can hold up to ten times as many bacteria as a toilet seat.
To see exactly what types of bacteria our devices might be hiding, researchers took swabs from ten smartphones and ten smartwatches.
The bacteria from the swabs were then allowed to grow in the laboratory so that researchers could see which types of microbes were present.
This showed that the smartphone was the dirtiest piece of technology, with even more bacteria than before on germ hotspots such as the TV remote.
The most common bacteria living on phones, watches, and Fitbits is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria commonly found in cockroach feces.
Researchers have discovered that your phone can contain up to ten times as much bacteria as the toilet seat. These images show bacteria and yeast colonies grown from samples taken from various smartphones
Previous research has shown that one in eight cockroaches caught in hospitals carry this potentially harmful bacteria.
This is particularly worrying for the millions of Brits who take their phones to bed.
A survey of 575 adults conducted by MattressNextDay found that 74 percent of respondents sleep with their phone on their head or under their pillow.
Scientists warn that this could expose you to the harmful bacteria that live on your phone.
To make matters worse, Pseudomonas aeruginosa thrives in the moist, warm climates of your bed.
Even though many people wore a smartwatch in bed to measure their sleep patterns, the devices turned out to contain large amounts of bacteria
This study shows that your phone is one of the dirtiest objects in your home and even contains more bacteria than the toilet remote control or television
Research has shown that the average person sweats up to 700 ml per night and that the bed usually reaches a temperature of 20°C.
This creates the ideal environment for bacteria to grow and potentially infect you.
Martin Seeley, sleep expert and CEO of MattressNextDay, says: ‘Remember that your bed should be a sanctuary for rest, not a petri dish for potentially harmful bacteria.’
Although Pseudomonas aeruginosa is harmless in most cases, it can lead to more serious health complications.
Exposure to the bacteria can cause eye infections, rashes, pus-filled pimples, diarrhea and headaches, and other conditions.
Previous research has shown that as many as one in eight cockroaches are carriers of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria (stock image)
For people with a weakened immune system, the consequences can be even more serious.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause a range of infections in vulnerable individuals, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections and even sepsis.
In hospitals, this cockroach-born bacterium is known to be a major cause of infections in ill-health patients.
To make matters worse, this bacterium is notorious for its antibacterial resistance, making infections even more difficult to treat.
Fortunately, experts say there are some simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of infection.
The hot, sweaty conditions created by exercise are perfect for bacteria growth – making sportswearables like the Fitbit a particular hotspot for germs
Cleaning your phone regularly with alcohol wipes or a UV disinfectant will eliminate any bacteria that may be living on your technology.
Make sure you pay extra attention to the areas that come in contact with your face, such as the phone screen or smartwatch band.
Simply cleaning your phone is so effective at reducing infections that Japan’s Narita International Airport has experimented with introducing ‘toilet paper for smartphones’.
These rolls of sanitary pads were placed next to regular toilet roll and can be used to wipe away any germs your phone may have picked up from the bathroom.
A previous study showed which bacteria often grow on your smartphone. This also applies to Staphylococcus aureus, which causes staph infections
But despite how easy it is to disinfect your devices, the survey found that 51 percent of people have never cleaned their smartphones.
Additionally, another simple way to reduce your exposure to harmful bacteria is to limit how often your phone touches your face.
This might include keeping your phone out of bed or taking regular breaks from using technology around bedtime.
Mr Seeley added: ‘By implementing these simple hygiene practices, we can all sleep a little healthier, knowing we are not sharing our beds with cockroach-related bacteria.’