Short-term exposure to indoor artificial light at night during sleep impairs cardiac autonomic function of young healthy adults

Originally published by Environmental Research, 13 August 2024 

Artificial light at night exposure has emerged as a significant environmental and public health concern globally.

However, there is far less evidence on the health effects of indoor artificial light at night, versus outdoor artificial light at night.

Heart rate variability (HRV) has been acknowledged as an effective objective, quick, cost effective, and non-invasive measurement, and is considered to be associated with various functional abnormalities, including cardiovascular, neural, endocrine, metabolic, sleep, urinary functions.

This study aimed to investigate the association between indoor exposure to artificial light at night and HRV during sleep.

The study found that even short-term exposure to indoor artificial light at night was significantly associated with impaired HRV, and improved shading habits - or eliminating light - may mitigate the adverse effects.

Read the full study.