Heart damage may occur from getting too much light at night, study finds
A study from the European Heart Journal indicates that exposure to even dim light during sleep may negatively impact heart structure and function. Researchers suggest that maintaining darkness is as vital for cardiovascular health as other lifestyle factors.
Why it matters
This finding identifies a common, overlooked environmental factor that could contribute to the rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases.
Exposure to light during nighttime sleep may lead to potentially harmful changes in the structure and function of the heart, according to a study published Wednesday in the European Heart Journal. Previous research had shown a link between nighttime sleep while exposed to light and an elevated risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure and stroke. The new study is the first to examine how it also affects the structure and function of the heart. Changes to the heart — known as remodeling — can help explain the elevated risk for heart problems associated with too much nighttime light, said lead researcher Dr. Lu Qi, of Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine. “The takeaway is clear: darkness deserves recognition as a vital sign, as essential to cardiovascular health as blood pressure control and clean air,” Dr.
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