New research published in the journal Sleep found that snoozing in a lit room increases our chances of developing hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.
More precisely, the study found a direct link between light exposure during sleep and increased blood sugar and heart rate of those involved.
Namely, the faint light managed to enter the eyelids of the participants and disrupt their slow wave and REM sleep — the stages of rest where most of our cells regenerate.
Unfortunately, light exposure during sleep is more common than you might think. Researchers discovered that more than half (53%) of the 552 participants in the study (aged 63 to 84 years) were exposed to some form of light for most of their slumber.
What’s more, those who slept in close proximity to a light source also went to bed later, and as a result, got up later.
The results were shocking — even the tiniest exposure to light had a negative impact on the participants’ health. Late sleepers were especially prone to cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
In other words, you should say farewell to any bright lights and electronics in your bedroom. Installing light-blocking curtains is yet another way of improving the quality of your sleep by blocking any external light sources, such as street lamps.
In addition to that, experts advise dimming the lights as much as possible or avoiding turning them on at all if possible in case you have to make a nighttime visit to the bathroom. For instance, dimmed floor lamps with adjustable brightness can help if you don’t point them directly at you.
Last but not the least, don’t fall asleep in front of the TV. And be sure to put your phone away at least an hour or so before hitting the sheets.
