How many of us have the bad habits of using our “artificial” lighting? Yes, the blue light on our devices, be they the iPhones, iPads etc., comes with a price when having them at our fingertips 24/7.
Did you know that the light throws off our REM and our body’s biological clock, the circadian rhythm out of whack? Our sleep is affected but so are other areas of our life. Our daily rhythms influenced by light, everyone has a different circadian rhythm however, the average length is 24 and 1/4 hours. the circadian rhythm of people who stay up late is slightly longer, while the rhythms of early birds falls just under 24 hours. A study in 1981 by Dr. Charles Czeisler of Harvard Medical School showed that daylight keeps a person’s internal clock aligned with the environment. Research shows that exposure to light (including blue light) suppresses the secretion of melatonin (a hormone that influences circadian rhythms) may contribute to the causation of the following:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Obesity
Do all colors have the same effect? The short answer is no. Blue wavelengths, are beneficial during daylight hours because they boost:
- Attention
- Reaction times
- Mood
But this also has a reverse affect at night, due to the electronics with screens, along with the energy efficient lighting that is increasing our exposure to blue wavelengths, primarily after sundown.
A study was conducted with 10 people who were put on a schedule that gradually shifted the timing of their circadian rhythms. Their blood sugar levels increased, throwing them into a pre-diabetic state, levels of leptin, (a hormone that leaves people feeling full after a meal) was reduced. The study also showed that dim light can interfere with a person’s circadian rhythm and melatonin secretion. Eight lux (a level of brightness exceeded by most table lamps and about twice of a night light, has an effect. Dr. Stephen Lockley, a Harvard sleep researcher also noted that ling at night is part of the reason so many people don’t get enough sleep, which has been linked to depression, along with diabetes and cardiovascular issues.
