Do you sleep with the light on? The side effects on heart and blood sugar you don't expect

New research has revealed why you shouldn't sleep with the lights on. This is what happens to our body.

Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous

Light is an important signal by which the body's internal clock, which governs a series of biological processes from temperature to hormone release, is synchronized with the external cycle of day and night; but according to a new study, sleeping with the light on could be linked to an augmentation risk of heart disease and diabetes. (Read also: Stages of sleep, what are they and how many hours of deep sleep does your body need to regenerate?)

Previous research has suggested that sleeping with the light on could causeobesity in women and type 2 diabetes among the elderly; According to the new research, however, people who are exposed to artificial light at night show worse glucose and cardiovascular regulation than those who sleep in the dark, and all this depends on the fact that the body is more alert with light.

Dr Phyllis Zee, co-author of the study stated that:

We found that light, even in modest amounts, increases activation of the autonomic nervous system, an increase in heart rate and a decrease in insulin sensitivity.

In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers report on how they studied the glucose tolerance and heart rate of 20 people for two nights; 10 of them spent both nights sleeping in dim light, while the other 10 spent one night in a low-light room and the next night in a room with ambient lighting of around 100 lux, which is roughly equivalent to a cloudy day .

The results suggest that while the levels of melatonin, the sleep-promoting hormone, were similar in both groups, the one who spent a night with the lights on had higher insulin resistance in the morning and a higher heart rate. Thus, these results show that good rest is connected with the surrounding environment, and that sleeping in a dark room can promote better sleep.

This study is very interesting, and although the numbers are quite small, the findings are consistent with previous research that light at night can increase physiological alertness, reduce deep sleep, and increase the release of stress hormones through sleep. sympathetic nervous system. Together, all of these factors contribute to increasing insulin resistance.

Photos: ScienceDaily

On sleep disorders could it be interesting for you:

If you always wake up at this time of night it could be a sign of an emotional block (or a problem with the intestines).
The secret to living longer is contained in this simple daily activity that protects you from the effects of time
Predictive sleep: The way you sleep can be a wake-up call for high cholesterol
8 Reasons Sleeping On Your Back Can Solve Your Sleep Problems
Sleep: Are you getting enough sleep? How to calculate when you should go to bed
If you wake up tired in the morning, you may have had little REM sleep. Tips and tricks to increase it and feel rejuvenated
Here's how your nutrition can help you sleep better at night
Going to bed early and sleeping well improves college performance. The MIT study
Sleeping with the TV and lights on makes you gain weight