Sleeping this way leads to diabetes and high blood pressure. Pay attention to it

If your bedroom is not completely dark at night, you should be careful. The latest research has proven that even the smallest amount of light during sleep can affect our body. This may lead to an increased risk of diseases such as diabetes, obesity or hypertension. Learn the details of this surprising research.

1. Researchers at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago set out to investigate the relationship between light and our sleep quality
2. First, they looked at how even the slightest amount of light in the bedroom affects sleep in 20-year-olds. Later, they examined the group of seniors from the same angle
3. It turns out that a little bit of light has a negative effect on our sleep. What’s more, it also causes the blood sugar level to rise and the heart rate to rise
4. Scientists argue that it is very important that our bedroom is completely darkened and that there are no electronic gadgets emitting blue light inside.
5. You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page

How does light affect 20-year-olds’ sleep?

Researchers at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago decided to look at how light affects the quality of our sleep. They shared their conclusions earlier this year. Initially, the expert Phyllis Zee and her team checked what it looks like in the case of healthy 20-year-olds. To this end, they conducted an experiment in the laboratory.

It showed that sleeping for just one night in low light, such as a TV with the sound off, raised their blood sugar and heart rate. If it were repeated, the respondents in their 20s would be much more likely to develop heart disease. In turn, elevated sugar could lead to the development of insulin resistance and, consequently, to type 2 diabetes.

“Dim light penetrated the eyelids and disturbed young adults’ sleep, even though participants slept with their eyes closed,” Phyllis Zee told CNN. “However, even this small amount of light resulted in a deficit of slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement, which are the stages of sleep in which most cell renewal takes place” – added the expert.

Light and sleep of people over 60

Scientists did not leave this topic. They also decided to look at the effect of light on the sleep of people between the ages of 60 and 80. They recently published their conclusions in the journal “Sleep”. “We wanted to see if there was a difference in the incidence of illnesses related to light exposure at night in young people and in seniors,” explains study co-author Dr. Minjee Kim.

552 men and women aged 63 to 84 participated in the study. They received an actigraph, a small device worn on a wrist like a watch, from scientists. It was supposed to measure sleep cycles, average movement and light exposure. “In fact, we measure the amount of light a person is exposed to using a sensor on the body and compare this to the activity during sleep and wakefulness over a 24 hour period,” explains Zee.

Scientists were surprised at what they found. They found that less than half of the men and women in the study consistently slept in the dark for at least five hours each day. «Over 53 percent or more people had a bit of light in the room »- said the researcher. “In a second analysis, we found that those who had more light at night were also at the highest risk of developing diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure,” he adds. In addition, people who slept in brighter lights went to bed more often and got up later. This, in turn, also increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and obesity.

How to properly prepare the bedroom for sleep?

First of all, pay attention to the arrangement of the bed. It is important that it is not close to the window. If you cannot avoid it, get proper blinds and thick curtains. You can also buy a blindfold to wear over your eyes.

Also, make sure that tablets, telephones or other electronic gadgets that emit blue light are not charged in your bedroom.. It has a very bad effect on the quality of our sleep. All because it disrupts the secretion of melatonin in our body.

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If you have to get up at night, don’t turn on the lights or try to keep them dimmed as much as possible. You can also install floor lighting in your home, which will be of great help in such a situation.