Sleeping with the Lights On? You May Be Courting Disaster: 34% Higher Risk of Death Linked to Nocturnal Light Exposure

Photo = Getty Images Korea. Research has shown that increased exposure to light at night and darkness during the day disrupts biological rhythms and increases the risk of death, while increasing exposure to sunlight consistently during the day is beneficial to health and longevity.

This is the result of analyzing more than 13 million hours of data collected over 8 years from optical sensors worn by 89,000 British people aged between 40 and 69.

According to Scitech Daily, a science media outlet, researchers investigated whether the risk of death can be predicted by an individual’s day and night light exposure and lighting patterns that disrupt circadian rhythms and published the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Studies have shown that people exposed to high levels of light at night have a 21 to 34 percent increased risk of death. Conversely, people who got enough sunlight during the day had a 17-34% lower risk of death.

Photo = Getty Images Korea.

“Exposure to bright nights and dark days is known to disrupt circadian rhythms, causing a variety of health problems such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, mental health problems, and increasing the risk of death,” said senior author and sleep expert at Flinders Professor Sean Kane said:

“New insights into the potential adverse effects of light show how important an individual’s light exposure patterns are to their health,” he added.

Co-lead author Andrew Phillips, associate professor at the same university, said exposure to light at night disrupts circadian rhythms by weakening (stopping the amplitude of) signals and changing the timing of the central circadian pacemaker, which coordinates rhythms. circadian throughout the body. Explain that you are doing it.

“Disruption of the body’s circadian rhythm is linked to the development of metabolic syndrome, diabetes and obesity, and is also closely linked to the development of cardiometabolic diseases including myocardial infarction, stroke and hypertension,” said Associate Professor Phillips.

“The observed relationship between nighttime light exposure and mortality risk may be explained by evening lights disrupting circadian rhythms and adversely affecting cardiometabolic outcomes,” he added.

Associate Professor Phillips said: “These findings clearly show that avoiding light at night and seeking sunlight during the day can promote optimal health and longevity, and this recommendation is easily achievable and cost effective. -effective.”

Photo = Getty Images Korea.

The study also showed that disruption of circadian rhythms increases the risk of death, a finding confirmed by the authors through computer modelling.

First author Dr Daniel P. Windred (Flinders Institute of Health and Medical Research) said: “The results of this study show that the central circadian pacemaker is most sensitive to light during the late night and early morning hours the morning, when it is dark. “It shows that it is important to maintain the environment and find bright light during the day in order to improve biological rhythms,” he said.

He explained that avoiding lights at night and getting enough sunlight during the day can reduce the burden of disease, especially cardiometabolic diseases, and increase life expectancy.

Description: Brighter nights and darker days predict higher risk of death: A prospective analysis of personal light exposure in 〉88,000 individuals (-

Park Hae-sik, Donga.com reporter pistols@donga.com