Light Impact on Sleep

People who work at night know all too well the problem of trying to sleep when the world around them is wide awake. When the sun's rays come streaming in, it's even harder. But the sun is more than a sign that it's daytime. Light - strong light, like sunlight - is the most powerful regulator of our biological clock. The biological clock influences when we feel sleepy and when we are alert.

When do you get your sunlight exposure? People who are housebound get little. In fact, the cause of your sleep difficulty may be just that: too little exposure to sunlight.

If you find yourself waking earlier than you'd like, why not try increasing your exposure to bright light in the evening? If sunlight isn't available, consider a lightbox (or light visor) available from a specialty store. Either way, as little as one to two hours of evening bright light exposure appears to help you to sleep longer in the morning. This may be especially helpful for the elderly.

During sleep, bright lights can disturb your sleep. Keep your bedroom dark (consider light-blocking shades, lined drapes, even an sleep mask) so light doesn't interfere with your passage to slumber. Learn about our sleep mask here

A sleep specialist can help determine whether changing your exposure to light might improve your sleep, and when would be the best time for you to experience bright light.

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