Лента.ру14 hours agoHealth2 min readRussia

Lighting at night is associated with changes in heart structure and function

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A UK Biobank study found that exposure to more than three lux of light at night is associated with thickening of the left ventricular wall, shrinkage of the left ventricular cavity and abnormal deformation of the heart muscle, which may indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

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Why It Matters

The study used data from the UK Biobank, where participants wore light sensors on their wrist for seven days and three years later underwent cardiac MRI to assess structure and function.

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Exposure to light at night has been associated with potentially adverse changes in heart structure and function. This was reported by scientists whose work was published in the European Heart Journal (EHJ).

The study involved 11,071 people from the UK Biobank project. For seven days, they wore sensors on their wrists that measured light levels at night. About three years later, the participants underwent an MRI of the heart, which allowed them to evaluate in detail the size of its chambers, the thickness of the walls and the functioning of the heart muscle.

People exposed to light of more than three lux at night had a thicker left ventricular wall and less space inside the left ventricle compared to participants who were in near-total darkness. In addition, they showed signs of a decrease in the ability of the heart muscle to deform normally during contraction, as well as changes in the right ventricle and left atrium. Such changes in the heart can occur in response to chronic stress and, over time, contribute to the deterioration of its function.

Researchers believe that nighttime lighting may be an underappreciated risk factor for cardiovascular health, and reducing the amount of light during sleep is a potentially simple way to protect it.

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