Light Exposure at Night May Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease, New Study Warns Consider blackout curtains or a sleep mask. Close Credit: Kwanchai_Khammuean / Getty Images Key Points A large study of nearly 89,000 participants found that higher exposure to light at night is linked to a significantly greater risk of cardiovascular diseases, including up to a 56 percent higher risk of heart failure and a 32 percent higher risk of atrial fibrillation.The link between nighttime light exposure and poor heart health persisted even after accounting for lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and income.Researchers say nighttime light may disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, and recommend using blackout curtains, dimming lights, and avoiding screens before bed to help protect heart health. We've all heard that avoiding your phone and turning off the TV before bed helps you get a better night's rest, but new research suggests limiting your exposure to light while you sleep may have an even bigger benefit—a healthier heart. A new study led by Flinders University and published in JAMA Network Open explored how light exposure affects heart health using data from nearly 89,000 people in the UK. To obtain its findings, researchers analyzed cardiovascular disease records across 9.5 years from UK Biobank participants who wore light sensors on their wrist for one week every year. They found that people who were exposed to the most light at night were at a higher risk of developing various cardiovascular diseases. For example, they had a 45 to 56 percent higher risk of heart failure and a 28 to 32 percent higher risk of atrial fibrillation. The sources of the light exposure are unclear; researchers only studied the intensity of the light as measured by wrist-worn sensors. Don't Miss This Easy and Rewarding Outdoor Hobby Boosts Your Mind, Brain, and Body These Creative Hobbies Could Keep Your Brain Young, New Study Finds The researchers found a correlation between light exposure and heart health even when accounting for other lifestyle factors, like age, diet, genetics, exercise, sleep habits, and income level. "This is the first large-scale study to show that simply being exposed to light at night is a strong and independent risk factor for heart disease," says Daniel Windred, lead author and research associate at Flinders University's FHMRI Sleep Health. According to Windred, the research suggests that nighttime light exposure may disrupt the body's circadian rhythm, which has significant health implications. "Disrupting your body’s internal circadian clock by repeatedly exposing yourself to bright light at night, when it would typically be dark otherwise, will put you at a higher risk of developing dangerous heart issues," he says. Luckily, there are ways to limit nighttime light exposure. "By using blackout curtains, dimming lights, and avoiding screens before bed, we can help to reduce the health risks associated with light at night," Windred notes. Explore more: News