Sleeping With the Lights On

What Are the Effects of Sleeping With the Lights On?

Sleeping with the lights on may affect sleep quality and increase the risk of certain health problems, like heart disease. These problems might be the result of disruptions to a person’s  internal sleep-wake cycle, which is heavily influenced by exposure to light. Disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle can change the way the body regulates energy Trusted Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) The NHLBI is the nation's leader in the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. View Source and maintains the functions of the heart and blood vessels, which can lead to other health problems. 

Heart Health 

Preliminary research suggests that even a dim light during sleep Trusted Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) The NHLBI is the nation's leader in the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. View Source can affect how the heart functions. Sleeping with a light on has been shown to increase heart rate and the risk for high blood pressure in some groups. These changes increase the chance of developing heart disease. 

More research is needed to understand why light exposure has such an effect on heart health. However, doctors suggest people may be able to reduce the risk of heart disease by minimizing or eliminating exposure to light at night and increasing exposure to natural daylight during the day. 

Obesity

Certain types of nighttime light exposure are associated with weight gain or obesity Trusted Source National Institutes of Health (NIH) The NIH, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. View Source . According to one study, women who fell asleep with a television or a light on Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source were more likely to have obesity and to continue to gain weight. Nighttime use of blue light is also associated with an increased risk of obesity, but sleeping with a small nightlight is not. 

More research is needed to understand the potential link between obesity and sleeping while exposed to artificial light. However, doctors recommend reducing light at night as much as possible to lower the risk of weight gain and obesity. 

Diabetes

Experts have also found an association between sleeping with the lights on and diabetes Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . A small study found that insulin resistance may increase when people sleep with a light on. Insulin resistance is a condition where the body does not effectively process sugar and is a risk factor for diabetes. Further research can clarify how long-term use of lights at night is related to diabetes and the development of insulin resistance. 

Does Sleeping With the Lights On Have Benefits? 

In general, it is best to sleep in darkness with no lights on. However, there are some cases when having lights on may be beneficial. For example, children or adults who are afraid of the dark may need to use a nightlight to help them relax and sleep. Also, some older adults may require a nightlight to prevent falls when getting up in the middle of the night. In these scenarios, experts recommend using a dim, warm-colored light to reduce intense light exposure as the benefits may outweigh the potential harms.  

How Light Can Impact Sleep

Light can significantly affect an individual’s circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms are internal patterns that change over a 24-hour cycle in response to environmental cues. For example, light alerts the body when to be awake while darkness signals the body to feel more tired Trusted Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) The NHLBI is the nation's leader in the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. View Source . So, when a person is exposed to artificial light, it can confuse the body into thinking it should be more awake at times it should be resting. 

Biological Clock 

The biological clock is a person’s internal clock that regulates circadian rhythms. The biological clock is more sensitive to light about two hours before bedtime, as well as throughout the night and for about one hour after waking up in the morning. 

Blue light specifically has the strongest impact on the biological clock and sleep. Blue light is a type of artificial light found in fluorescent and LED lights as well as electronic screens on televisions, computers, and mobile devices. Exposure to blue light during the hours before bedtime can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. View Source . 

Exposure to light during the evening and during the first part of sleeping can also delay an individual’s circadian rhythm later Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source . People who experience this type of delay may have decreased sleep duration because they cannot sleep well into the morning due to work or school, and they may feel less alert. 

Melatonin 

Melatonin is a hormone that the body makes on its own to signal the body when to go to sleep. Sleeping with the light on can reduce or even stop melatonin production Trusted Source National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NICCH) NCCIH funds and conducts research to help answer important scientific and public health questions about complementary health approaches. View Source . Blue light exposure in particular, which includes light from screens on electronic devices, can suppress melatonin production. When the body does not produce melatonin at night, a person may have a hard time falling asleep. 

What to Do If You Can Only Sleep With the Light On 

Not everyone is able to sleep without any light on. However, there are ways to reduce the impact of artificial light on sleep. Switching to using red light at night instead of white or blue light can help because red light does not disturb the body’s internal clock.

Additionally, natural light during daytime hours is just as important as reducing bright lights during night time when it comes to sleep health. Experts suggest getting an hour of exposure to natural sunlight every morning.

Other tips for good sleep hygiene include: 

• Refrain from caffeine and alcohol before bed 
• Get regular exercise, but avoid exercise too close to bedtime 
• Try not to eat large meals before bed 
• Practice relaxation techniques before bed like meditation, taking a bath, or reading 
• Keep the bedroom at a cool temperature for sleeping 
• Avoid blue light exposure from electronic screens

If you have any questions about your sleep patterns and your health, consult your doctor or a health care provider.