brain NEWS you can USE D
id you know that the colors of light you are exposed to can have an effect on your health
and your mood? Does watching TV late at night or using a tablet in bed affect you ability to sleep? The effects of light on the circa-
dian rhythm or the internal clocks of living organisms was first seen in 1958. In the years since, the effects of light on humans has been studied in more detail. In particular, blue light has the strongest effect on the circadian rhythms or the internal clocks of people. Researchers are now finding more evidence that an out-of-phase circadian rhythm is a health hazard. Dr. Dieter Kuna states, “A growing body of evidence suggests that a desynchronization of circadian rhythms may play a role in various tumoral diseases, diabetes, obesity, and depression.” He also states that shift workers expe- rience the most internal desynchronization and have an increased risk of a number of diseases that include cardiovascular disease and cancer.
While it is not clear why nighttime light is so bad for us, we
do know that light exposure suppresses the secretion of melato- nin, which influences circadian rhythms. Even a small amount of light, as the amount of light produced by a table lamp, can change the circadian rhythm and the amount of melatonin we produce. The amount of light we are exposed to at night is part of the reason that people don’t get enough sleep at night. Short sleep at night has been linked to the increase risk for depression, diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Any type of light can af- fect the secretion of melatonin, but blue light in particular has a more powerful effect. For example, blue light suppresses mela- tonin production for twice as long as green light. Red lights have the least ability to shift circadian rhythm and suppress melatonin. Night lights should be dim red lights because they have the least effect on sleep.
Blue light also is becoming more common in our environ-
ment. The light bulbs we use are increasingly becoming fluores- cent and LED. While these bulbs are more energy efficient, they produce more blue light than old-fashioned incandescent light-
Note from author: Sleep is a growing problem for children and adults. Many times, environmental changes can reduce sleep issues. For some people, poor sleep is the result of EEG patterns that are deregulated due to a number of causes. Neurofeedback has been shown to be very helpful in reducing sleep problems for adults and children.
Lizette Sanchez-Lugo, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.N. 2006 New Garden Rd., Unit 201 • Greensboro 336.288.6440 •
info@saludnutritionandwellness.com www.saludnutritionandwellness.com
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NaturalTriad.com
Gail Sanders Durgin, Ph.D. has been providing neurofeedback and biofeedback at Neurofeedback Associates Inc in Greensboro since 2000. She previously worked in child and adult mental health and developmental disabilities services for 18 years. Dr. Durgin offers the most advanced neurofeedback treatment ser- vices in the field in order to offer individualized client centered solutions to improve brain function and life performance. Contact her at 336-540-1972. See ad on page 36.
Effects of Light on Your Health bulbs.
Other common sources of blue light are the number of electronic screens we are exposed to, especially portable digital devices. Newer televi- sions produce more blue light than older tube model. More disruptive than television are the number of por- table devices we use, such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. The degree to which the circadian rhythm is dis- turbed is influenced by how bright the light is, how far the device is from the eyes and the colors of the light being emitted. Since these small devices are held close to the face and are often used in bed, they could have the larg- est effect on the ability to produce
melatonin and fall asleep, delaying sleep patterns. Lack of sleep can affect concentration, memory, and alertness
which could lead to problems at school and at work. Suggestions for reducing these problems include:
• Use red or amber light, which have the least effect on sleep, for night lights.
• Avoid looking at bright screens for two to three hours before bed, especially for children. If you can’t avoid looking at screens, use blue blocking screens on TV’s or tablets if you use electronic devices too close to bedtime.
• Purchase blue-blocking glasses to use if using electronic devices late in the evening or if you work a night shift job. Blue blocking glasses and screens can be obtained from online stores on the internet.
•Get lots of bright light during the day which will help keep your circadian rhythm regulated and improve mood and alert- ness.
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