Study: Exposure to night light affects the shape and function of the heart
Quick Look
An American study that included more than 11,000 people showed that exposure to night light for 34 minutes each night affects the secretion of melatonin, which leads to enlargement of the wall of the left ventricle of the heart and a weakening of its ability to contract, which increases the risk of heart disease.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
She studies the relationship between exposure to night-time light and heart health, with an emphasis on the effect of light on the hormone melatonin and heart function.
A study conducted in the United States revealed that excessive exposure to lighting during the night hours affects the shape and functions of the heart.
The study, conducted by a joint team from Tulane and Harvard universities and the Louisiana State Health Department in the United States, included more than 11,000 adults, who were asked to wear a sensor bracelet around the wrist over a period of seven days to measure their rate of exposure to lighting during the night hours.
Three years later, the researchers performed imaging of the study participants' hearts.
Exciting details
It turns out that people who are exposed for 34 minutes every night to levels of lighting that affect the secretion of melatonin in the body, which is the hormone responsible for regulating the sleep process, had an enlargement of the wall of the left ventricle, which led to a narrowing of the cavity of the lower chamber of the heart.
The x-rays also showed a weakness in the ability of the heart muscle to contract during the beating process, which is an indicator of a decline in heart function.
The Health Day website, which specializes in medical research, quoted the head of the study team as saying that these changes are called “reshaping the heart,” adding that they “represent the way our bodies adapt to stress, but they may ultimately lead to a weakening of the heart and may lead to heart disease.”
Within the framework of the study published in the scientific journal "European Heart Journal", which specializes in heart diseases, researchers also found that lack of hours of sleep at night plays a role in strengthening the relationship between these physiological changes in the heart and levels of exposure to lighting at night.
Practical solutions
Doctors advise simply using thick curtains on windows in bedrooms, using dim lighting at night, and covering all illuminated keys on electronic devices.
Also, health experts believe that the best practical rule is to make the room as dark as possible. Also, turning off the hallway lights, using light-blocking curtains, and wearing an eye mask may greatly benefit heart health, according to what the Time magazine website indicated.
Dr. Lu Qi, one of the study participants, said, “Our results, along with evidence from other studies, indicate that doctors and policymakers should consider reducing light exposure at night as a potential strategy for preventing heart disease,” according to what was reported by the “Inside Precision Medicine” website.
Reviewed by: Tariq Ankay
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Doctors and policymakers will recommend limiting exposure to night-time light as a strategy to prevent heart disease
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What is the safe limit of exposure to night light to avoid affecting the heart?
- Do effects vary by age, gender, or pre-existing health conditions?
- What is the long-term effectiveness of suggested interventions such as thick curtains and eye masks?
