Our habits, like the first thing we do when we wake up, the first meal of the day we prefer and even our bedtime habits, all of these can reveal many things about our health. What people don’t realize is that their ‘harmless habits’ could have major implications for their health. One of these habits is using your phone before you go to sleep. Many people like scrolling on social media or reading books on their electronic devices to relax. However, did you know that the same habit could be the culprit behind your poor heart health? New research has uncovered a truly concerning problem: there’s a strong link between being exposed to bright light at night and having major heart issues. Because of this alarming finding, scientists are now telling everyone they should buy blackout curtains and make sure they turn off their electronic devices before they get into bed to actively protect their hearts. How Does Exposure To Light Affect Heart Health?Researchers from Australia's Flinders University looked closely at the health information of almost 89,000 people in the UK over a period of ten years. They tracked how much light these people were exposed to by having them wear special wrist devices. The results were shocking and clear: People who were exposed to the brightest light while they were sleeping at night had a 56% higher risk of experiencing heart failure.These same people also had a 47% greater chance of suffering a heart attack. Importantly, these higher risks were still true even when the researchers checked for other known risk factors that affect the heart, like what people ate, how much they exercised, and their family history or genetics. Why Night Light is a Major Risk Factor Dr. Daniel Windred, who led the study, explained that this is the first large study to prove that simply being around light at night is a serious, independent risk factor for heart disease. The Problem: Exposing yourself to bright light when your body expects darkness confuses your body's natural 24-hour clock (called the circadian rhythm).The Result: If you keep confusing this internal clock, it puts you at a much higher risk for developing dangerous heart problems. The researchers also stress that the risk is not just from extremely bright lights. Another researcher, Associate Professor Andrew Phillips, pointed out that even low levels of indoor light—such as looking at your phone in bed, falling asleep with the TV on, or leaving a small light on—can interfere with your body’s natural timing. Because of these findings, scientists now argue that light exposure at night should be considered just as serious a health risk as smoking or having a poor diet. Simple Ways to Protect Your Heart at Night The good news is that this is one health risk you can easily control. Scientists offer these three simple habits to protect your heart while you sleep: Install Blackout Curtains: Put up thick curtains that completely block out any light coming from streetlights or outside your window. Dim or Turn Off Lights: If you have to get up at night, use the dimmest light possible, and always make sure all lights are turned off when you go to sleep.Avoid Screens Before Bed: Make a rule to put away your phone, tablet, and laptop well before your bedtime.
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