Can leaving the lights on at night hurt you? Learn about the link between sleeping with the lights on and your blood pressure.
Some people use a night light to feel some comfort while they sleep or maybe they forgot to turn off the hallway lights at night. However, according to a study from Northwestern University, sleeping with the lights on may increase an older person’s risk of high blood pressure as well as obesity and diabetes.
The study also suggests that any type of light may impact higher disease rates. “Whether it be from one’s smartphone, leaving a TV on overnight or light pollution in a big city, we live among an abundant number amount of artificial sources of light that are available 24 hours of a day,” says Dr. Minjee Kim, assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Older adults already are at higher risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, so we wanted to see if there was a difference in frequencies of these diseases related to light exposure at night.”
Sleeping in the Dark
In light of their results, the researchers have various tips on how to keep it dark while you sleep. For starters, you should turn off all your lights and only use a dim light that’s closer to the floor if you need it for safety. If you are using lights, make sure they’re amber, red, or orange, which are less stimulating than white or blue light.
Lastly, you should do what you can to block out the light. If there is an outside source you can’t control, then consider moving your bed so you’re not facing the source. You can also get blackout shades or wear eye masks to block the outside light.
Why Sleep Is Important
It’s essential for your health that you get a goodnight’s sleep, and turning off your lights can help with that. Not only will you reduce the risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes (according to the study), but you will experience other benefits.
For instance, good sleep may help you maintain or even lose weight and may improve your concentration and productivity. It can also maximize athletic performance, strengthen your heart, support your immune system, and more.
The Outlook
Good sleep is one of the pillars of health as lack of it can increase your risk of heart disease, sickness, and more. If you want to improve your health and maintain it at a healthy level, then make sure you sleep with the lights off.
In addition to sleep, you can boost your health by taking supplements like Circulation Boost. Its ingredients promote circulation, blood pressure, energy levels, and more. Give your health the support it needs by sleeping properly and taking Circulation Boost.