More light at night linked to changes in heart structure and function
Exposure to light at night is linked to important and potentially harmful changes in the structure and function of the heart, according to a study of more than 11,000 people published in the European Heart Journal on Thursday.
A recent study published in the European Heart Journal has found a link between exposure to light at night and changes in the structure and function of the heart. Led by Professor Lu Qi from Tulane University, the research involved over 11,000 participants from the UK Biobank study. All participants wore light sensors on their wrists for seven days to measure nighttime light levels.
Three years later, participants underwent cardiac MRI scans to examine their heart's structure and function. The findings showed that individuals exposed to more than three lux of nighttime light had thicker walls in the left ventricle (one of the heart's chambers), reduced space inside the chamber, and decreased flexibility of the heart muscle during a heartbeat, which is an early sign of heart dysfunction.
The right ventricle and left atrium also showed changes. Professor Qi emphasized that this is the first study of its kind and highlights nighttime light exposure as a potential new risk factor for cardiovascular disease. He suggested that reducing nighttime light exposure could be a strategy for preventing heart disease, along with other measures like using blackout curtains, warm-colored bedside lighting, and covering standby LEDs on household electronics.
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