According to National Public Radio (NPR), 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia. With the sale and use of electronic devices such as e-readers and other tablets on the rise, scientists are looking into the possible connection between the use of electronic devices before going to sleep and insomnia.

Artificial light causes the body to be alert and more awake by stimulating the brain. Scientists have discovered a connection between the light produced by backlit e-readers and other electronic devices and the suppression of a hormone called melatonin.

Melatonin is produced by the body when the sun starts to set. The purpose of this hormone is to help the body rest by causing sleepiness. The backlights in electronic devices may cause melatonin to decrease by tricking the body into thinking it is daytime.

Exposure to electronic devices too close to bedtime suppresses melatonin and may cause insomnia. According to researchers, prolonged exposure to electronic devices before sleep and repetitive episodes of insomnia may disturb the body’s natural sleep cycle, called the circadian rhythm.

Melatonin suppression can also lead to increased risk of obesity and diabetes and scientists warn of a link between melatonin suppression and the increased risk for breast cancer.

Electronic devices can also disturb sleep by distracting users for extended periods of time.

“Sometimes it’ll be really late and I’m on the computer and I don’t want to stop doing what I’m doing so I don’t sleep,” said senior Missy Corwin. “I’ll end up going to sleep really late and I’ll be tired the next day.”

According to a study conducted in 2003 by Belgian researchers, 2.2 percent of teenagers were woken up every night by a text message. Mobile phones were not as prevalent in 2003, and with nearly 85 percent of teenagers now carrying phones around on a daily basis, researchers have concluded that more and more teenagers are being woken up daily by the ringing of their cell phones.

There are, however, uses of electronics that promote sleep. Relaxing music tracks are used as a way to treat chronic insomnia. It is unclear whether or not music affects the quality of sleep, but it does allow the brain to relax and wind down after a stressful or busy day.

“Most of the time I can sleep because I’m exhausted at the end of the day, but if I can’t fall asleep, I usually listen to music,” said senior Dorienne Matsuno. “It helps me relax and fall asleep.”

“I need to sleep with background noise,” said senior Christine Gempisao. “If my room’s too quiet, it freaks me out. I put my TV on a timer and fall asleep. It turns off by itself during the night so it doesn’t wake me up, just helps me get to sleep.”

Until the theories of electronic devices and insomnia have been explored more thoroughly, researchers recommend that people turn off all their electronics an hour before going to sleep to avoid melatonin suppression and achieve more restful sleep.