Eventhough we need the lights on the streets when it’s dark outside, there are negative effects that affect our overall health.
During the night, the natural darkness contributes to rest and rejuvenation, as well as the body’s ability to create and regulate specific important hormones. This is all disrupted by the lights that contribute to the “light pollution”.
Actually, a high degree of artificial light lead to the light polution. This syndrome has 4 components which may overlap:
When you find yourself in an overlit place, it will actually decrease your visibility. It is in our nature to adapt our eyes to darkness since our pupil opens appropriately for the amount of light that is present. On the other hand, our pupils never become dark adapted in overlit areas, so areas around bright lights are much more difficult to see.
It was stated by the American Medical Association that due to excessive light exposure, negative health effects can occur, and they recommended that further investigations are needed on the effects of excess light at night. Moreover, they suggested that new technologies should reduce the effects of light on human’s “body clocks”, also known as the Circadian Rhythm.
Circadian Rhytms are a 24 hours day/light cycle that strongly affects all living organisms. According to recent research, there are negative effects of light pollution on birds, frogs and other wildlife. The author of the scientific article Missing the Dark: Health Effects of Light Pollution, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2627884/, points out that there is ongoing research on specific negative effects on humans,
Including depression, increasing insomnia, cardiovascular issues, and disturbing evidence that light pollution is associated to increases in tumor growth, as well as the obvious effect of interfering with sleep patterns.
The artificial light interferes with the body’s natural production of the hormone melatonin, and the scientists are investigating the link between this and the many health issues that happen. The pineal gland produces melatonin during the dark hours, which acts as a trigger for wide range of biologic activities, as well as offering protection againts the development of cancer and tumor growth.
Beside trying to convince the powers to stop adding more light to the already out of control over lighting, we can take control of our own home environment. The best thing you can do is to sleep in a 100% darkened room. You can put a tape on all the little electronic lights that are on the cable box and tv, throw away your digital clock. You can also use a sleep mask.
The Bucky Luggage 40 Blinks Ultralight Sleep Mask is the highest rated by Good Housekeeping. If you use other Masks, they can intefere with sleep since they are completely flat to your face and the eyelashes get stuck when they move naturally during sleep cycles. Another thing you can do is to pull down all window shades in order to block the light that trespasses right into the room. HAPPY SLEEPING!
Source: familylifegoals.com
