A new investigation proposes that there are

potential health hazards linked to the exposure

to artificial light while sleeping.

It is not unusual to sleep with some light source, but a recent study released in March through
the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has demonstrated that it may not
be beneficial for one's health. The research revealed that being exposed to artificial light could
potentially harm cardiometabolic function, which in turn, may raise the likelihood of developing
diabetes.

The focus of the investigation is what the study examined.

The investigation involved 20 individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 who were in good
health. These participants wore a Philips Respironics Actiwatch and kept a record of their sleep
patterns in a diary. Moreover, individuals with certain medical conditions were excluded from the
study, such as those with sleep, neurological, or psychiatric disorders, obesity, diabetes,
gastrointestinal disease, blindness, smokers, those with severe medical conditions, women who
were pregnant or breastfeeding, anyone undergoing light therapy, using illegal substances, or
who had an allergy to heparin (a blood thinner).
After confirming eligibility, the participants stayed in a laboratory for two nights and three days
with an eight-hour window for sleep beginning at their usual bedtime. The participants were split
into two groups:
● The "room light condition" group slept with a dim light during the first night and a brighter
overhead light during the second night.
● The "dim light condition" group slept with low-intensity light during both nights.
During the research, the scientists monitored the glucose and insulin levels of the participants,
and they conducted polysomnography (PSG) tests on both nights to study their sleep. They also
evaluated the participants' daytime heart rate and blood pressure, assessed their level of
drowsiness, analyzed plasma melatonin, and used the visual analog scale (VAS) to assess
acute and chronic pain.

The investigation's outcomes are what the researchers discovered.

The researchers noted that their primary discovery was that a single night of light exposure
resulted in increased levels of insulin resistance in the morning. Furthermore, this light exposure
during sleep may elevate the heart rate and impede glucose metabolism in the morning. The
difference in insulin resistance was significant between those exposed to "room light" (15
percent increase) versus "dim light" (4 percent decrease). While glucose levels were similar for
both groups, insulin levels were significantly higher for the "room light" group from the first day
to the second day.
In general, the study's major finding suggests that Exposure to light in the surrounding
environment during nighttime may lead to an increase. the risk of cardiometabolic diseases,
which include conditions such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, insulin resistance, and non-
alcoholic fatty liver disease, as defined by the University of Edinburgh.

This implies how it affects you or what you should take away from the
study's findings.

The study suggests that exposure to artificial light during the night may have adverse effects on
your health. However, there are ways to reduce light exposure while sleeping, which can be
beneficial for your health.
● Turn off any lights or night lights in the room and hallway.
● Keep electronic devices or anything that emits light out of the bedroom if possible.
● Wear blue-light-blocking glasses before going to bed to avoid disrupting melatonin
production.
● Use blackout curtains to keep the room dark for optimal sleeping conditions.
● If you prefer having some background noise while sleeping, try a sound machine instead
of a light source to help you relax.
Do you have a helpful suggestion to reduce exposure to light during sleep? Send us an email at
carley.prendergast@sleepopolis.com.