Could using electronics at night increase your risk of death and disease? Say what? When we think about the things that increase our risk of disease we tend to think food and diet. Sure, the really health conscious folks will also keep in mind things like toxins, stress, or lack of sleep.
Stop right there, Ranger. Let’s talk about sleep a bit, and how blue light from all those fancy screens of yours (television, computer, smartphone, tablets, ect.) are ruining your sleep. And that chain reaction most definitely CAN increase your risk of disease and premature death.
What’s wrong with artificial blue light?
“Until the advent of artificial lighting, the sun was the major source of lighting, and people spent their evenings in (relative) darkness. Now, in much of the world, evenings are illuminated, and we take our easy access to all those lumens pretty much for granted.
But we may be paying a price for basking in all that light. At night, light throws the body’s biological clock—the circadian rhythm—out of whack. Sleep suffers. Worse, research shows that it may contribute to the causation of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.” (Blue Light Has a Dark Site, Harvard Health Letter)
We all know sleep is important. Countless studies and research have shown that sleeping 7 – 9 hours at night can reduce the risk of many chronic ailments, reduce stress, and help your overall health. But more people are not getting the sleep they need and sleep issues are rampant in our society today. We try supplements, special pillows, herbal teas… all in the name of better sleep. But what about the artificial light from our technology? Turns out blocking blue light may be a major factor in getting your zzzz’s.
Read More About Blocking Artificial Blue Light For Better Sleep & Health
How artificial light is wrecking your sleep, and what to do about it
How to Improve Melatonin Levels with Orange Sunglasses
Our Simple Solution To Block Blue Light
We grab a pair of anti blue light glasses and make sure we wear them a couple hours before bed (best if you start as the sun starts to go down.) There are lots to choose from (see a whole search here) but these orange guys are definitely a cheap solution to the blue light problem.