Turning off all lights and drawing the curtains before hitting the bed may help protect your health, according to a recent study out of Northwestern University that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“These findings are important particularly for those living in modern societies where exposure to indoor and outdoor nighttime light is increasingly widespread,” senior study author Dr. Phyllis Zee said in the release.
Woman sleeping in her bedroom at night. (iStock)
Researchers found exposure even to moderate ambient light while sleeping, compared to sleeping in a dimly lit room, is harmful to your cardiovascular function during sleep and can increase your insulin resistance the following morning, according to a release about the Northwestern Medicine study.
“The results from this study demonstrate that just a single night of exposure to moderate room lighting during sleep can impair glucose and cardiovascular regulation, which are risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome,” Zee, who is also the chief of sleep medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in the release. The Northwestern Medicine physician also said, “It’s important for people to avoid or minimize the amount of light exposure during sleep.”
The authors of the study said up to 40 percent of individuals sleep with a light on in the bedroom or keep the television on. They also said exposure to artificial light during sleep is common, whether it is from a light–emitting device or a source outside the home, especially in large urban areas.
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The researchers tested the effect of sleeping with 100 lux (moderate light) compared to 3 lux (dim light) in participants over a single night. Zee’s research team discovered that moderate light exposure while sleeping caused the body to go into a higher alert state. The researchers explained in the release that this heightened state caused an increase in heart rate and blood flow in the participants’ vessels and increased the force with which the heart contracts.
Sleep is a key part of a healthy life (iStock)
According to the study, evidence has shown that exposure to light during the daytime hours, increases an individual’s heart rate by activating the sympathetic nervous system, contributing to a heightened awareness. The sympathetic nervous system is also known as the “fight or flight” system and helps an individual face challenges or avoid danger, health experts told Fox News.
“Our results indicate that a similar effect is also present when exposure to light occurs during nighttime sleep,” Zee said in the release. The researchers found that a person’s body cannot rest properly in a lighted room and the individual’s heart rate increased even in a moderately lit room.
Co-first author Dr. Daniela Grimaldi, who is a research assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern, said in the release, “Even though you are asleep, your autonomic nervous system is activated. That’s bad. Usually, your heart rate together with other cardiovascular parameters are lower at night and higher during the day.”
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While the sympathetic nervous system takes over during the day, the parasympathetic nervous system typically takes over at night, allowing a person’s body to rest and restore, according to the study release. However, the researchers said this does not happen with those who slept in a lighted room.
The investigators also found insulin resistance occurred in the lighted room participants. This is where a person cannot properly utilize glucose from their blood for energy because the cells in the muscles, liver and fat do not respond to insulin appropriately. The pancreas then must make more insulin and over time and the individual’s blood sugar goes up, the release said.
Stressed woman. (iStock)
“In addition to sleep, nutrition and exercise, light exposure during the daytime is an important factor for health, but during the night we show that even modest intensity of light can impair measures of heart and endocrine health,” Zee said in the release.
- Turn lights off. If you must have a light on (which older adults may want for safety), use a dim light close to the floor.
- Use an amber or a red/orange light. It is less stimulating for the brain. Avoid using a white or blue light and keep it far away from the sleeping person.
- Use blackout shades or eye masks if you cannot control the outdoor light. Move bed to keep the outdoor light from shining on your face.
In addition, if you are wondering if your room is too light, Zee offered this advice, “If you’re able to see things really well, it’s probably too light.”
Study Shows The Importance of a Dark Bedroom
Linked below is an article posted this week about the health reasons for needing darkness when you sleep. What I hadn’t realized are all the health concerns that come from having too much light in your sleeping circumstances. The article was taken from “FoxNews” but it covers a study that was done by “Northwestern University that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”.
I am going to edit certain points so we can focus on how this relates to window treatments. Please check out this important article below. I’ve added bold accents to the points that stand out to me. I will offer some practical suggestions at the end of the page.
Sleeping with lights off and closed blinds may protect your health: study
Sleeping in a moderately lit room may increase risk for heart disease and diabetes, study says
There are lots of products out there that will help you sleep. The simplest and least expensive would be a eye mask, but most people hate wearing something on their face, unless they are on an airplane. When it comes to window treatments, this is the typical choice. I’ve seen people who put aluminum foil over their window. I’ve seen cardboard used as a light blocker. But, what choice should you make?
In the video above, I show a product that makes your window allow in no light at all. It is the Hunter Douglas Duette Blackout shades with their special LightLock feature. This is perfect for people who want complete darkness when they sleep. The other method we help our clients with are blackout lined draperies. Most people are very comfortable with blackout shades or blackout lined fabrics without special light-blocking features. But, the point here is that you can get your room as dark as you need it to be. Contact your trusted window fashionista, like me, to help you make the perfect choice for you. Maybe it is blackout shades, or maybe it is another choice.
I hope you found this article to be informative and it helps you decide what is best for your sleep and life. Thanks for reading it.
About Us
Kempler Design is located in Reno NV and serves the northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe regions with a mobile design showroom. Paul Kempler, its founder is considered a window fashions expert. Kempler Design has been featured in many prestigious projects, including the HGTV dream home in Lake Tahoe. Kempler Design works with homeowners as well as interior design firms looking for a local contact in the Reno/Tahoe area or is available for travel.