Skip to main content

Be careful, light sleep lights can be bad for health

Sleeping habits accompanied by bright sleep lights save the possibility of adverse effects on health. Besides being able to disrupt the body's circadian rhythm, research shows the possible contribution of light at night to obesity, depression, and even cancer. Each color of light can cause different effects. Blue daylight can have a positive effect on mood and improve concentration. However, the effect can be reversed at night, because blue light actually has a negative impact on the body when it's time to rest.

Beware of Light Rays when Sleeping at Night

Melatonin is a hormone that affects the body's circardian rhythm or the body's biological rhythm that lasts 24 hours. Radiation of light to the body when sleeping at night can actually inhibit the formation of melatonin. This melatonin deficiency is thought to be related to sleep disorders and general health problems. That is why melatonin can also be given as a sleeping pill to help someone to more easily fall asleep and be used to treat sleep disorders.

Health Problems Related to Exposure to Light at Night

If the light sleeps to cause sleep disturbance, here are some risks regarding health problems that can occur:
  • Obesity

  • From a study, found the possibility of sleeping habits using light can have an impact on eating patterns that increase the risk of excess weight.
  • Depression

  • A study shows that it is possible to use light sleep, even with low light, can increase certain physiological changes. The effect of these changes can cause certain changes in the brain and trigger depression. Nevertheless, this matter is still being researched.
  • Reproductive health disorders

  • Exposure to light at night is often experienced in people who work with shift work systems. This can lead to reproductive health disorders, especially in women. A study states that the more often a woman works with the system, the higher the risk of menstrual cycles experiencing disruption. The researchers suspect, it is also related to sleep cycles that disrupt the stability of hormones.
  • Cancer

  • A study says that the shift system can disrupt the sleep cycle and become one of the risk factors for prostate cancer and breast cancer. In line with this, another study states that sleep at night with a light sleep that is on, is one factor that can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Tips for Sleeping with Safe Light

Sleep quality will also affect the quality of one's health in general. Therefore, in order to avoid sleep disturbances caused by light on the sleep lamp, you can apply the following tips:
  • Turn off all light sources, including cellphones, TVs and computers. It is recommended to turn it off since one hour before going to sleep.
  • If you need a light sleep, wear red with dim lighting when you sleep, because it has the lowest effect on circadian rhythms and melatonin, when compared to other colors.
  • Limit lighting that enters your room. If there is bright light from outside the room, you can provide a barrier or by wearing a blindfold.
  • Avoid turning on bright lights when you wake up at night. When you wake up to do something and need to use light, use a light with a red or yellowish light.
  • When doing activities during the day, use lighting that is bright enough. This will help you to sleep at night.
  • If you work at night, try to get enough rest during the day. When sleeping at home, leave the room completely dark so the body can rest. If necessary, use sunglasses to avoid exposure to light.
  • If you are afraid of the dark, there are many ways to overcome them. You can read guidebooks to overcome the fear of the dark or conduct cognitive behavioral therapy to overcome the phobia of darkness.
Actually there is no need for light sleep at night to get quality sleep. If you are forced to use it, choose the light not blue. Although all colors still carry the risk of inhibiting melatonin production, the effect of blue light can inhibit melatonin production up to two times stronger than other colors.

Comments