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Is it best to sleep in total darkness?
Thanks for asking! Almost all kids are afraid of the dark, and sometimes that fear even lingers into adulthood.
It's a shame really, because contrary to what you might think, darkness is actually not our enemy but a friend when it comes to drifting off to dreamland.
What does science have to say though?
As it turns out being exposed to light at night can have negative consequences on a person's health in the long term.
That's according to a study by researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in the United States.
They published their findings in 2022.
Having discovered a correlation between exposure to light while sleeping and conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
What's the link between light and disease?
When our bodies are exposed to light, they stay on high alert which in turn translates to a faster heart rate and stronger heart contractions.
That's not good given our heart rate should be slowing down at night and speeding up during the day.
Another effect is increased resistance to insulin.
In simple terms, our fat and liver cells stop responding properly to insulin, making it harder for them to use the sugar in our blood for energy.
To compensate, the pancreas goes into overdrive to produce more insulin, and blood sugar levels rise because our bodies can't regulate glucose effectively anymore.
Over time this increases the risk of diabetes, which is bad news for heart health.
Light, and especially artificial light, also interferes with the production of melatonin, which helps us fall asleep.
Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in the brain, and it actually has a protective role against certain hormone -dependent cancers.
So when light messes with its production, it makes people more susceptible.
How can I ensure I'm not at risk from light exposure at night?
If you live in a big city you can no doubt appreciate how difficult it is to actually achieve total darkness in your bedroom given all the artificial sources of light that are on 24 -7 But even so, there are some things you can do to reduce night time exposure For example you may be able to move your bed so that outdoor light isn't shining on your face while you sleep If that's not possible you can always wear a blackout shade or eye mask Phyllis Tze is a Northwestern Medicine physician.
And co -authored the study I mentioned earlier on.
She says that if you really need to have a light on at night, it should be a dim light, and as close as possible to floor level.
She also said that the color of light can make a difference.
Warm amber or red -orange lights are less stimulating for the brain.
And preferable to blue or white.
There you have it. Now you know whether it's best to sleep in total darkness.
In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines.
Listen along and you will really know for sure.
