Whether you are looking for a solution to your insomnia issues or might be interested in using self-hypnosis to reprogram your subconscious mind, you may be considering using AirPods. Before you make your final decision, make sure to read this article. We performed in-depth research to present you with the fact that will help you determine whether or not is it safe to sleep with AirPods.
Moreover, we will also take a look at some alternative solutions and wrap things up by answering the most frequently asked questions.
So, are you ready to learn if is it safe to sleep with AirPods? Let’s dig in.
How AirPods Work
In case you are not familiar with AirPods, these are Apple’s wireless earbuds. They are very similar to classic (wired) Apple’s earphones that you get with most iPhones, minus the wire. Actually, each earpiece is slightly bigger as it needs to pack all the necessary technology to enable wireless functioning, mainly storing small rechargeable batteries.
AirPods work based on Bluetooth connection, which is one of the most popular short-range wireless connection methods. You simply connect your AirPods to your iPhone or any other Bluetooth enables device and hit play.
In addition, AirPods come with built-in microphones to enable hand-free calls and tapping controls that you can program deferent mining to.
All-in-all, AirPods are without a doubt a very practical piece of technology and definitely one of the highest quality wireless earphones on the market.
Now you know how AirPods work, but is it safe to sleep with AirPods?
Is It Really Easier to Sleep with AirPods
This is a rather complex question and as such comes with a complex answer. We are all very different and have different needs and different habits, this includes our sleep. So, there are many who could sleep easier with AirPods, presuming that the right kind of sounds or audios were playing.
On the other hand, there are many individuals who would find AirPods irritating and would not sleep better with them in their ears at all.
An Individual’s sleeping pose also plays an important role. If you sleep on your back, you will have way fewer issues in comparison to sleeping on your side; in which case the earpiece will be pressed against your ear with increased force, causing additional discomfort.
Generally speaking, there might be potential benefits to sleeping with AirPods (though sleeping earphones would be a better choice), there isn’t a single person that wouldn’t require some getting used to having something in their ears, in which period the sleep quality would be definitely slightly compromised.
How Do AirPods Radiate EMF
Electro-Magnetic Field (EMF) is something that all wireless electronics emit, actually, EMF is something that humans emit naturally as well.
As mentioned above, AirPods work based on Bluetooth connection, which operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency range. So they obviously emit non-ionizing EMF radiation, which is a noninvasive type of radiation.
How will Sleeping with AirPods Affect Your Health
There are quite some risks of prolonged AirPods use, which have them in your ear throughout the entire night definitely is. In this section, we cover various aspects that you should be aware of before considering wearing AirPods for sleep.
Are Using AirPods is Safe When You Sleep : Physics vs. Biology
When it comes to EMF radiation there is a lot of divided opinions. As such, it is also important to point out that while some of the potential health risks presented below are relatively highly possible, others, such as cancer remain on an extremely low-risk side and have not been proven.
If you ask physics, the majority agrees that non-ionizing EMF radiation has no ill effect on human beings. On the other hand, biologists tend to claim that cell, both their functioning and reproduction are affected by non-ionizing EMF and can have negative effects.
Aside from EMF, there are also other potential health risks of wearing earbuds for extended periods of time.
EMF Radiation vs. Physical Irritation
If one was to decide to sleep with AirPods, one must consider potential risks. As far as the science and the evidence go, non-ionizing EMF radiation is not something an average person should worry about. You see, human beings have their own EM field on very low frequencies that protects us. However, it is our thought that poses the biggest threat.
So far the recorded cases of negative effects of EMF non-ionizing radiation do not exceed those of placebo effects. And since placebo is extremely powerful, individuals that believe that sleeping with AirPods can cause a brain tumor, are way more likely to actually get some health issues of that sort.
So if you are afraid of EMF radiation, it is best not to use Airpods.
On the other hand, the physical irritation and blockage of the ear canal, pose a more serious threat.
Below is a list of potential risks that come with sleeping with AirPods:
- Cancer concern – as covered above, this risk is extremely low. You have to know that there is a ton of EMF radiation in your home and that additional Bluetooth radiation from your AirPods doesn’t make a significant change. However, if you are extremely worried about these potential issues, your mind can cause actually problems. Moreover, the actual effects of EMF on human cells are still somewhat of a gray area, and denying all potential risks would be irresponsible.
- Risk of swallowing the earbuds – this is another extremely low risky aspect, however, it is possible. There is one documented case of that actually happening. It is up to you to decide, whether or not you can take on this small risk. If you actually swallow it may not be as risky as having an earpiece stuck in your throat or windpipe.
- Buildup of ear wax – unlike the above two problems, this one is highly likely. Using any earplugs or in-ear headphones is proven to increase ear wax buildup. Now, this may not be a serious problem if you have relatively high ear hygiene standards. The buildup of ear wax can impair your hearing, cause dirt and bacteria to accumulate more easily, which tends to lead to inflammation and allergic reactions.
- Ear Infections – there might be a slightly lower risk for ear infections than it is for a buildup of ear wax, however, this is still a quite common issue that sleeping with AirPods can cause. Ear infections can be very painful and highly unpleasant.
- Hearing Loss – this is rather unlikely, however, it is possible. This is especially at risk if you play extremely loud music (above 105-110 dB) can cause damage in 5 minutes. Moreover, severe ear infections can also lead to hearing loss in some extreme cases.
- Physical damage to your ear – this is also a rather high risk. As you move around during the night, your earpieces may be pressed on and thus cause increased forces upon your ear skin, which can cause damage to it. In most cases this only results in slight itching or discomfort, however, in some cases, it can lead to serious problems.
- Sleep disturbance – this is also an extremely common issue when sleeping with AirPods. Instead of helping users to sleep better, the discomfort that comes with having something in your ears often actually results in sleep disturbance.
Are There Any Benefits In Sleeping With AirPods
If one can look past all of the potential risks listed in the previous section, there are several obvious benefits of sleeping with AirPods, which include the use of sleeping-aid sound or self-hypnosis to change your subconscious mind and make it more empowering.
However, there are other devices, such as sleeping headphones that give you the same benefits but without most of the risks.
How to Protect Yourself if You Sleep with Your AirPods
If you decide to sleep with AirPods, there is very little you can do to avoid some of the potential risks. However, some small actions can help you lower certain risks.
When it comes to EMF radiation, the best you can do is to eliminate (minimize) all other EMF sources in your bedroom. You can also put your phone or airplane mode and just turn on the Bluetooth.
As far as the ear wax buildup goes, there is very little you can do to prevent it. However, you can ensure you properly clean your ears with warm water on a regular basis.
To minimize the chance of infections, you should also clean your AirPods on regular basis. The best way is to use cotton swaps and medicine alcohol.
Alternatives to Sleeping in AirPods
We have mentioned some of the alternatives to sleeping with AirPods throughout the article several times. In this section, we will take a closer look at the most popular options, which will enable you to determine what options may best work for you.
Sleep Headphones
Sleep headphones are in our opinion the best options if you are not alone in the room or have a poorly sound-isolated bedroom. The sleep headphones are typically equipped with an eye mask and made out of comfortable materials. Of course, the actual quality varies from model to model.
They normally feature very thin and well-padded speakers that enable you to sleep on the side without any additional discomfort.
If you are used to sleeping with a sleep mask, you should have no problem getting used to sleeping with sleep headphones.
White Noise Generator
White noise generators are special self-sufficient devices that produce white noise. These are great alternatives for users that have their own bedrooms. However, they can be an issue for your partner.
When it comes to EMF radiation risks and ear problems, you eliminate those completedly when using these devices.
Earplugs & Ear Defenders
Earplugs and ear defenders are not something that we’d recommend. Sure there may be no EMF radiation, however, the wax buildup risk is still there and all the discomfort as well.
If you do use earplugs, make sure to use silicon ones that will fit you very well. Also, make sure to keep them clean.
Ear defenders are usually extremely uncomfortable and thus something we do not recommend for sleep. You are almost certain to wake up on every turn using ear defenders.
Using external speakers
Using external speakers is a great option. Like with white noise generators, you avoid all the potential risks of using headphones. However, this solution may be problematic if you share a room with your partner or roommate, who does not want to listen to the same sounds.
Moreover, it is important to use a wired speaker to minimize EMF radiation (if that is something you are concerned with).
Noise-canceling earmuffs
Noise-canceling earmuffs are nothing but high-end ear defenders that come with all the same discomfort issues. As such, we really think they are not a good choice for sleep.
They may work for you if you sleep on your back exclusively, which is very rare.
FAQs – Frequently Ask Questions
Does sleeping with AirPods Pro and AirPods have the same effects on the heath?
AirPods Pro are slightly more comfortable (for most ear types) and thus pose a slightly lower discomfort. However, all other negative effects remain the same as with AirPods.
How do you keep AirPods in at night?
How well AirPods fit in your ear will depend on your ear shape. If you were to ensure that they stay in, you may use some sort of soft ear band.
Can they harm our ears?
Yes, there are some potentially harmful risks that come with sleeping with AirPods. For details, refer to the ‘EMF Radiation vs. Physical Irritation’ section above.
How loud should the music be for sleep?
The music for sleep should be at a rather low volume. In terms of dB, we are talking about dB or lower.
How much battery life do AirPods have?
AirPods offer about hours of listening time, which means that you will not be able to get the sound throughout the entire night (average 8-hour sleep).
Wrapping Things Up
So, is it safe to sleep with AirPods? At this point, you should be able to answer this question quite easily. You now know that using AirPods for sleeping may not be a good idea since it can lead to discomfort, sleep interruptions, and even ear infections. Moreover, biologists would also be concerned over the EMF radiation, which we leave up to you to decide.
Luckily there are some better solutions, which we’ve presented above.
Whether you decide to take a risk and use AirPods for sleeping or choose some of the other alternatives, we wish you a good night and quality sleep.
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