You can protect your health by turning off the lights and sleeping with the blinds closed.

According to a recent study at Northwestern University, turning off all lights and pulling a curtain before hitting a bed can help protect your health. Minutes of the National Academy of Sciences..

“These findings are especially important for people living in modern societies, where exposure to indoor and outdoor night light is becoming more prevalent,” said senior research author Dr. Philis Gee. .. release..

According to a study by Northwestern Medicine, researchers are more detrimental to cardiovascular function during sleep, even when exposed to moderate ambient light during sleep, compared to sleeping in a dimly lit room, the next morning. We have discovered that it may increase insulin resistance in the body.

“Future results study Only one night’s exposure to moderate room lighting during sleep has shown that glucose and cardiovascular regulation, risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, can be impaired. ” Gee, who is also the director of sleep medicine at Fineberg School, said. Said in the release of medicine. “It’s important for people to avoid or minimize the amount of exposure to light during sleep,” said a doctor in Northwestern Medicine.

The authors of the study said that up to 40% of individuals sleep with the bedroom lights on or leave the TV on.They also said that exposure to artificial light during sleep was common, whether it was from light or not.– –Especially in metropolitan areas, emit devices or sources outside the home.

Researchers tested the effect of sleeping overnight at 100 lux (medium light) compared to the participants’ 3 lux (dim light). Zee’s research team found that moderate exposure to light during sleep puts the body in a higher alert state. Researchers explained in the release that this elevated condition caused an increase in the heart rate and blood flow in the blood vessels of the participants, increasing the ability of the heart to contract.

Studies have shown that exposure to light during the day increases an individual’s heart rate by activating the sympathetic nervous system, contributing to increased awareness.Sympathetic nerve Nervous system Also known as a “fight or flight” system, it helps individuals face challenges and avoid dangers, health experts told Fox News.

“Our results show that a similar effect exists when exposure to light occurs during nighttime sleep,” Zee said in the release. Researchers have found that a person’s body cannot rest properly in a bright room, and even in a moderately bright room, an individual’s heart rate increases.

Dr. Daniela Grimaldi, co-lead author and assistant professor of neurology research at Northwestern University, said in the release: That’s not good. Heart rate and other cardiovascular parameters are usually low at night and high during the day. “

Research reports show that the sympathetic nervous system is taken over during the day, while the parasympathetic nervous system is usually taken over at night, allowing the human body to rest and recover. But researchers said this wouldn’t happen to someone who slept in a bright room.

Researchers also found that participants in illuminated rooms developed insulin resistance. This is where glucose from the blood cannot be properly used as energy because muscle, liver and fat cells do not respond properly to insulin. Later, the pancreas needs to produce more insulin, and over time, an individual’s blood sugar levels rise, the release says.

“In addition to sleep, nutrition and exercise, exposure to light during the day is an important factor for health, but it shows that even moderate intensity light at night can impair heart measurements. Endocrine “Health,” Zee said in the release.

Researchers have suggested the following tips for reducing light during sleep.

• Turn off the light. If you need to turn on the light (elderly people may need it for safety), use a dim light near the floor.
• Use amber or red / orange lights.. There is little irritation to the brain. Avoid using white or blue lights and keep away from sleeping people.
• Use a blackout shade or eye mask If you cannot control the outdoor light. Move the bed so that the outdoor light does not hit your face.

In addition, if you’re wondering if the room is too bright, Zee advised, “If you can see things really well, it’s probably too bright.”