Is it true that sleeping in the light is harmful?

There is an opinion that a dream in light can be harmful to health. We decided to check if this is so.

Information that you need to sleep in complete darkness, you can find On thematic Portals And sites online stores goods For sleep, c Media, glossy And cognitive publications, on resources About healthy lifestyle. Write about this on the portals dedicated to Medicine. Users discuss this topic on forums And services questions and answers. Often Topic, is it possible for a child to sleep with a nightlight, rises on sites dedicated to motherhood.

Normally, both people and many species of animals sleep in the dark - this is due circus rhythms, which, in turn, are attached to environmental signals, primarily to light. During the day, our inner hours, or Superchiasmical coregenerate Signals For the brain that help us remain vigilant and active, with the onset of night, they start the production Melatonin, a hormone responsible for a high -quality healthy sleep. Thus, circus rhythms allow To our body to relax and recover at night, then to remain peppy during the day. 

But some people sleep in the light of day due to the downed mode or schedule, leave the upper light or nightlight on, do not turn off the screens of phones or computers, which is why the bedroom is still light. The light of car headlights or lanterns from the street also does not allow creating the conditions of complete darkness. But is it really so dangerous?

Scientists from Harvard Medical School found outthat the so -called indoor light (about 200 lux) reduces the time of the production of melatonin by an hour and a half and reduces its amount by 50%, which in turn can potentially affect the quality of sleep, thermoregulation, blood pressure and glucose level in the body.

In a very fresh study of 2022, researchers from the North-Western University (USA) conducted experiment: 20 young people were offered to sleep a few nights with varying degrees of illumination. One group spent one night almost without light, and the second with the upper light on. The second group slept both nights in the dark. Despite the fact that the subjects from the first group said that they slept normally, the indicators of the work of their brain recorded in a dream using an electroencephalogram testified that they spent less time in the stages of a deep and quick sleep (these are the two most calm Stages sleep important for cognitive functions). In addition, in the morning of them Insulin resistance (an indicator affecting the body's ability to process sugar) was increased. And the heart rhythm did not slow down all night, which could become reason development of cardiovascular diseases and early death.

Another study, carried out by the same scientists, confirmed that the dream in the elderly in the light has even more negatively affects. They monitored more than 550 participants over 63 years old for 7 days, studying the conditions of their sleep, and then compared the results with their medical indicators. It turned out that those who sleep in the light are more prone to cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes. 

Japanese scientists measured The brightness of the light in the bedrooms of more than 1000 elderly people 2 hours before waking up and found out that those who slept in the light were more susceptible to various sleep disturbances. 

Scientists from the National Institute of Health of the United States They thinkthat lighting during sleep can contribute to weight gain and the development of obesity. They came to this conclusion, having studied the profiles of more than 43 thousand women, where they talked about the conditions in which they sleep. Those who preferred to sleep in the light or did not turn off the TV for the night were more prone to fullness. Although, scientists note, this factor, of course, was not the only one.

Moreover, experts of the US National toxicological Program They saidthat a long period of work on a night shift, leading to a violation of circadian rhythms, can cause the occurrence and development of cancer. Scientists note that the habit of sleeping in the light can lead to the same consequences.

Blue lightthat emit screens of smartphones, tablets, computers and TVs - the most stimulating type of light, it suppresses Melatonin is the most and extremely destructive influences On the quality of sleep. Therefore, to sleep with the TV turned on even without sound or leave a smartphone next to the bed, the screen of which periodically lights up due to notifications is not the best idea.

Experts Consult Refuse to use phones and laptops 2 hours before bedtime, as well as muffle lighting, which will contribute to the production of melatonin. In the bedroom, it is worth hanging dense curtains or blinds that will protect from light from the street. Another option is to sleep, but they may seem inconvenient, and then there will be more harm from them than good. Another advice is to spend as much time as possible in the world during the day, then the lighting in the evening will not be so much to influence the body.

Thus, sleeping in light is really harmful to health. Experts believe that such a dream will not be of high quality and will not allow you to fully relax and recover, and in the long run can cause the development of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes and even cancer. 

Is it true

What do our verdicts mean?

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