What can you do to protect yourself from developing insomnia? Elizabeth Tracey reports

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Insomnia appears to be epidemic in the US in some studies, with additional data suggesting the problem is growing. Johns Hopkins sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo says there are things you can do to prevent insomnia.

Gramaldo: Blue light wavelength suppresses melatonin. Melatonin is essential, it's release and how it cycles and is essential to setting the stage for sleep it's part of your circadian rhythm. We are now living in an era it's 24/7. It's not even just the TV 24/7, all of those devices pixels have a greater density of blue light. One of the ways from a prophylactic standpoint is to limit your electronic use if you can, ideally an hour but definitely within half an hour of when you go to sleep.           :33

Gramaldo says turning off devices, both for avoiding blue light and stimulation, as part of bedtime preparation should help ward off insomnia. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.