Today’s health report of India is very worrying. Where is the problem of sugar and where is heart disease? Where is the problem of thyroid, arthritis and where is the fear of stroke. The biggest thing is that now diseases do not come based on age but are attacking based on lifestyle. About 10 years ago, where heart disease was reported in 16-17% of the people, it has increased to more than 25% in 2025. Metabolic and endocrine problems i.e. problems like diabetes, thyroid, obesity have increased from 15% to more than 24%.
The infection rate in the country is decreasing, but lifestyle diseases are increasing rapidly, and this danger becomes more visible after the age of 40. But the question is, who is destroying the lifestyle? The answer is this smartphone in our pocket! According to a report, in 2024, Indians spent 1.1 trillion hours or one lakh ten thousand crore hours looking at screens. This means that on average, each person spends 5 hours on their phone every day, and about 70% of it is wasted on social media, gaming and short videos.
As a result, people’s sleep, brain, gut health and hormonal systems are rapidly deteriorating. The blue light coming from screens at night activates inflammatory markers in the body. And poor sleep, constant scrolling stimulates the brain, and notifications create dopamine addiction. As a result, the brain gradually needs more stimulation for even small pleasures.
Harmful effects of excessive smartphone use:
Effect on sleep:
The blue light emitted from smartphones is the biggest cause of sleep disruption. Blue light signals our brain that it is daytime. It inhibits the production of melatonin. Using your phone late into the night disrupts our body’s internal biological clock, which disrupts deep sleep.
Gut Health / Digestion:
It’s surprising, but true, that there is a strong connection between your phone and your stomach. Staring at your phone while eating can lead to poor chewing and overeating, which can lead to indigestion and weight gain. Stress and anxiety directly affect the microbiome of your gut, which can lead to problems like gas and bloating.
Effects on the brain:
The biggest impact of smartphones is on the brain. Social media notifications and ‘likes’ release dopamine in the brain. It acts as an addiction, which reduces concentration and increases anxiety.
