PNAS: Sleep without the lights on!

Sleep is a reparative process in the human body that refreshes the mind and relieves fatigue

Sleep is a reparative process in the human body that refreshes the mind and relieves fatigue

Nowadays, many people have the habit of turning on the lights to sleep.

On March 14 , 2022 , Northwestern University researchers published a research paper titled "Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function" in the journal "PNAS" .

The study showed that sleeping with the lights on can impair a person's cardiovascular function and increase insulin resistance, which increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes

For the study, researchers recruited 20 healthy young adults and divided them into two groups

For the study, researchers recruited 20 healthy young adults and divided them into two groups

The researchers found that exposure to brighter light while sleeping puts the body into a higher alert state and the heart rate increases, and this nighttime increase in cardiac stress may lead to a long-term decline in a person's cardiometabolic health

Light increases heart rate during sleep 

Light increases heart rate during sleep 

In addition, the study found that the participants had increased insulin resistance the morning after they slept in moderate light

In addition, the study found that the participants had increased insulin resistance the morning after they slept in moderate light

Insulin resistance is when the cells in muscle, fat, and liver don't respond well to insulin and can't use glucose in the blood for energy

Light sleep increases insulin levels 

Light sleep increases insulin levels 

Although these cardiometabolic changes resulting from sleep under moderate light conditions were statistically significant, it is important to note that participants in the study did not report any subjective differences in sleep quality between the two light conditions

Although these cardiometabolic changes resulting from sleep under moderate light conditions were statistically significant, it is important to note that participants in the study did not report any subjective differences in sleep quality between the two light conditions

The researchers noted that the participants did not experience more piecemeal sleep in bright light conditions

Although the study was small, the findings suggest that sleep exposure to moderate light induces physiological changes that are subjectively not immediately noticeable

If you must sleep with the lights on, keep the lights as dim as possible and close to the floor, avoid white or blue night lights as they can be more irritating, and wear an eye mask if you can't control your sleeping environment, the researchers recommend

Original source :

Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function .
PNAS.
https://doi.
org/10.
1073/pnas.
2113290119

Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function .
PNAS.
https://doi.
org/10.
1073/pnas.
2113290119 Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic functionLeave

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