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.
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But scientists now warn that using your phone in bed could be hurting more than your sleep pattern.
According to research sponsored by MattressNextDay, your phone could be harbouring harmful bacteria usually found in cockroach droppings.
Coming into contact with these germs can lead to rashes, pneumonia and even sepsis in vulnerable individuals.
Even worse, scientists warn that the warm, humid environment of your bed is the perfect 'petri dish' for this pathogen to grow and spread.
With the average person touching their phone an estimated 2,617 times per day, it is no wonder that our devices can quickly become extremely unhygienic.
Previous studies have found that the buttons on your smartphone can hold up to 10 times as much bacteria as a toilet seat.
To see exactly what kinds of bacteria our devices might be hiding, researchers took swabs from 10 smartphones and 10 smartwatches.
A previous study revealed the bacteria which commonly grow on your smartphone. This includes Staphylococcus aureus which causes Staph infections
The bacteria from the swabs were then allowed to grow in the lab so researchers could see what kinds of microbes were present.
This revealed that the smartphone was the dirtiest piece of tech, with even more bacteria than had previously been found on germ hotspots such as the TV remote.
The most common bacteria living on phones, watches, and Fitbits was Pseudomonas aeruginosa - a bacteria commonly found in cockroach faeces.
Previous studies have found that one in eight cockroaches captured in hospitals carries this potentially harmful bacteria.
This is particularly worrying for the millions of Britons who bring their phones to bed with them.
A survey of 575 adults conducted by MattressNextDay found that 74 per cent of respondents sleep with their phones by their head or underneath their pillow.
Scientists warn that this potentially exposes you to the harmful bacteria living on your phone.
To make matters worse, Pseudomonas aeruginosa thrives in the humid, warm climates found in your bed.
Research has found that the average person sweats up to 700ml per night and that the bed typically reaches temperatures 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, your bed should be a sanctuary for rest, not a petri dish for potentially harmful bacteria.'
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While Pseudomonas aeruginosa is harmless in most cases, it can lead to more severe health complications.
Exposure to the bacteria can cause eye infections, skin rashes, pus-filled pimples, diarrhoea, and headaches, and other conditions.
Research has found that the average person sweats up to 700ml per night and that the bed typically reaches temperatures of 20°C.
This creates the ideal environment for bacteria to grow and potentially infect you.
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Martin Seeley, sleep expert and CEO of MattressNextDay, says: 'Remember, your bed should be a sanctuary for rest, not a petri dish for potentially harmful bacteria.'
While Pseudomonas aeruginosa is harmless in most cases, it can lead to more severe health complications.
Exposure to the bacteria can cause eye infections, skin rashes, pus-filled pimples, diarrhoea, and headaches, and other conditions.
Regularly cleaning your phone with alcohol wipes or a UV sanitiser will eliminate any bacteria which may be living on your tech.
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Be sure to pay extra attention to areas which come in contact with your face such as the phonescreen or smartwatch band.
Simply cleaning your phone is so effective at reducing infections that Narita International Airport, Japan has experimented with introducing ‘toilet paper for smartphones’.
These rolls of sanitary wipes were placed alongside the regular toilet roll and could be used to wipe away any germs your phone may have picked up from the bathroom.
Yet, despite how easy it is to disinfect your devices, the survey found that 51 per cent 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 could include keeping your phone out of bed or taking regular breaks from using tech around bedtime.
Mr Seeley adds: 'By implementing these simple hygiene practices, we can all sleep a little sounder knowing we're not sharing our beds with cockroach-related bacteria.'