novations that help us sleep – Low blue lights
The importance of a dark bedroom is mentioned in the last chapter,
however light intensity in the evenings is also important. The brightness
of the lights in your bedroom and your home can have an effect on
your sleep quality, as was found in a study that showed that the
evening light we are exposed to in an indoor environment affects our
biological clock and can disrupt sleep quality.
Researchers at the Surrey Sleep Research Centre at the University of
Surrey found that the ordinary, artificial indoor-light we are exposed
to in the evening suppresses the rise of melatonin, making us feel less
sleepy, and thus more inclined to delay bedtime. This is because most
lights contain a high amount of blue light; however the researchers
found that when they altered the colour of light, reducing blue light
and increasing the red and yellow, the disruptive effects of the light
were minimised. (Luc Schlangen, Nayantara Santhi, Derk-Jan Dijk,
Journal of Pineal Research Nov. 2011).
Their research follows the discovery of a blue-sensitive photoreceptor
which specifically targets the body’s circadian rhythm.
It is now possible to buy low-blue light bulbs for the home, and glasses
that can reduce blue light exposure from computer screens, tablets
and smart phones which all contain high amounts of blue light which
can impair our production of melatonin and disturb sleep.
See Resources for stockists of low blue light bulbs and glasses.
The researchers in the above study also found that reducing overall
light intensity was also able to minimise the disruptive effects. So if you
don’t have them, try to fit dimmer switches to your lights and reduce
light intensity in the hours before bedtime. You can also reduce light
intensity by using low wattage bulbs, energy saver bulbs, and using
lamps instead of ceiling lights.