Moonlight, phone screens and standby LEDs: Is your bedroom too bright?
A new study found that even as little light as from a phone screen at low brightness during sleep is linked to potentially harmful changes in the heart’s structure and function.
Recent research from the European Heart Journal reveals that even minimal light exposure during sleep, such as moonlight or light filtering through a door crack, can negatively impact human heart health. Lu Qi, the lead researcher from Tulane University in New Orleans, USA, explained that increased nighttime light exposure is associated with changes in the heart's structure and function, which often results from chronic stress or injury.
These changes, while indicative of the body's response to stress, ultimately weaken the heart and can lead to heart failure. In response to these findings, clinicians and policymakers should consider keeping bedrooms as dark as possible as a potential strategy for preventing heart disease. Qi's study involved 11,071 participants who were exposed to various levels of light over a week, ranging from complete darkness to light comparable to a low brightness phone screen.
After three years, participants underwent a cardiovascular magnetic resonance scan to assess any changes in their heart structure and function. The results indicated that those exposed to the highest levels of nighttime light experienced thickening of the left chamber walls, leading to a reduced ventricle space. Additionally, there were signs of decreased heart flexibility during a heartbeat, an early warning sign of heart dysfunction.
An accompanying editorial in the journal emphasized that darkness should be considered a vital sign, as crucial to cardiovascular health as blood pressure control and clean air. The authors urged clinicians to inquire about sleep environments, including bedroom darkness, night shift work, and post-sunset screen usage. They advised implementing measures such as using blackout curtains, warm-colored bedside lighting, and covering the standby LEDs on household electronics to minimize light exposure.
Municipalities also play a significant role in mitigating light pollution, as it is one of the few environmental hazards cities can address directly and affordably. They suggested using shielded fixtures, warm-spectrum bulbs, and dimming or motion-activated streetlights, which are both energy-efficient and environmentally friendly ways to reduce light exposure.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
