How smartphone light affects your brain and body

It may be hard to stop, but looking at your phone at night is a terrible idea.

Smartphone screens emit bright blue light so you can see them even at the sunniest times of day.

But at night, your brain gets confused by that light, as it mimics the brightness of the sun. This causes the brain to stop producing melatonin, a hormone that gives your body the "time to sleep" cues. Because of this, smartphone light can disrupt your sleep cycle, making it harder to fall and stay asleep — and potentially causing serious health problems along the way.

Here's how it works:

SEE ALSO: Here's how much time people in US cities waste sitting in traffic

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A psychologist reveals how to get rid of negative thoughts