Nighttime Light Exposure Is Linked to Heart Changes
A new study suggests the heart may work overtime to handle the stress of light at night.
Nighttime light exposure has been linked to heart changes, according to recent research published in the European Heart Journal. Compared to individuals who sleep in darkness, those exposed to light at night often exhibit structural changes in their hearts, indicating that the organ is working harder than usual. This study analyzed data from fitness monitors worn by participants in the UK Biobank, which included an objective measurement of light exposure using a light sensor.
Researchers found that people exposed to at least 3 lux of light during sleep had thicker heart walls and less effective pumping, which may precede the development of heart disease. While these results are correlational, they support earlier findings linking nighttime light exposure to a higher risk of heart disease, including stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure.
The exact cause of the nighttime light exposure in the study is unclear, but the best advice remains to minimize light in the sleeping environment, such as turning off hall lights, using blackout curtains, and wearing an eye mask.
Written by urgent.news from Time's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
