Recently I was reading an article from United Press International about the findings of a study conducted by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) exploring the effect of blue light on a person’s circadian rhythms, and how it relates to better sleep.
RPI is located in Troy, NY. I used to live in that area. Guess I was first attracted to the “Troy, NY” locater on the story. Little did I know how age affects the way our eyes see light, enough to possibly cause changes in the quality of our sleep.
The researchers used a “personal light-treatment device” to shine a particular blue light in the study participants’ eyes - for 90 minutes at a time.
I don’t know. Would you do all that work for a better night’s sleep?
I have sleep apnea and wear a mask attached to a machine to help me keep breathing at night. Whenever I move, I also have to move the mask, and the tube around me, so I’m not laying on top of it. I drag the entire contraption on airplanes with me; anywhere I go, it goes. Guess it’s a little work for a good night’s sleep.
So a 90-minute light therapy session - before bed - wouldn’t be all that bad.
But who knew we had something called “nocturnal melatonin?”
They didn’t tell me that after my sleep studies.
Anyway, if you’re older or have a sedentary lifestyle and don’t get enough exposure to this kind of light, who knows. A personal blue light stimulus device could help with sleep.
Photo Credit: Quique López
Wed, Jul 1, 2009
Environmental Factors