Exposure to light at night is associated with health problems.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The habit of sleeping with light exposure seems to need to be avoided. According to a recent study, exposure to light while sleeping at night appears to be associated with the incidence of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes in adults.
The study, conducted by Northwestern Medicine, involved 552 participants aged 63-84 years. Only less than half of the participants were accustomed to sleeping in the dark. Other participants are known to be exposed to light, even in the middle of their sleep.
Through the journal SLEEP, the research team revealed that any light exposure while sleeping at night appeared to be associated with a higher incidence of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. This light exposure can not only come from lights, but also from televisions, smart phones, or light pollution in big cities.
“It is important for people to avoid or limit the amount of light exposure during sleep,” said Northwestern Medicine researcher Dr Phyllis Zee. News Medical, Thursday (30/6/2022).
Dr Zee revealed that there are three things you can do to reduce light exposure during sleep. Here are the three ways:
1. Do not turn on the light. If you need light in the bedroom, especially for the elderly for safety reasons, try placing a dim light source close to the floor.
2. Adjust the color. If you can’t really escape the light while sleeping, choose a night light that emits a yellow, red, or orange color to reduce stimulation to the brain. Avoid using lamps that emit white or blue light. Also try to place the light source as far from the sleeping position as possible.
3. Install light-blocking curtains or use an eye mask. These two things can help if the light source comes from a place that you can’t control, such as exposure to lights from outside the bedroom window.
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