Know that keeping the lights on while you sleep can cause diabetes and heart disease if you do it because of some underlying anxiety.
The discovery was made in a US-based medical investigation.
According to Northwestern University research, moderate light levels in a bedroom during sleep can affect heart and vascular health, which can enhance insulin resistance the following morning.
According to studies, such individuals have worse glycemic and cardiovascular management than those who sleep in the dark.
The autonomic nervous system is activated by even low levels of light, the researchers found, increasing heart rate and lowering insulin sensitivity.
For two nights, the study monitored the heart rates and blood sugar of 20 participants.
Ten of them were forced to sleep in dim light, while the others were permitted to sleep in dim light one night and in a setting with cloud-like lighting the next.
The findings suggest that melatonin, a hormone that aids with sleep, is present in comparable amounts in both groups.
However, those who spent one night in low light had higher insulin resistance and faster heart rates the following morning.
The change in insulin is a substantial physiological alteration that alters the risk of diabetes, but the researchers couldn’t determine how relevant it is medically because we only observed the healthy group for two nights. There is proof that daylight speeds the heart rate, preparing the body for challenges throughout the day.
The researchers concluded that their findings “indicate that a comparable effect may occur with light during nighttime sleep.”
Keep in mind that insulin resistance refers to a condition in which the cells in our muscles, fats, and liver do not respond to insulin as intended and instead utilise the blood glucose for energy.
As a result, the pancreas starts to generate more insulin, which gradually elevates blood sugar levels.
Researchers advise using very dim illumination or keeping the lights off while you sleep to prevent these risks.
For low light, consider red or orange instead of white or blue. An eye mask is also an excellent option.
The medical journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published the study’s findings.
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