The influence of light on sleep

Taking into account the importance of sleep for our health and the need to ensure adequate rest, several studies have been carried out that seek to delve into the impact that certain elements can have on our sleep. In this case we will refer to light, whether natural or artificial light, how it relates to the quality of our rest and what the presence of light causes in our body.

Studies carried out on light, in relation to sleep, have managed to highlight an interesting connection between the presence of light and the behavior of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin increases in the presence of darkness and is inhibited when light is perceived, this phenomenon largely explains why our feeling of sleepiness increases when we sleep, which leads us to reason about whether or not we are biologically programmed to sleep at night and perform our tasks during the day.

Through the development of this guide we will be delving deeper into the effects that the influence of light has on our sleep, so that we can learn more about the characteristics and peculiarities of this important process.

Light as a sleep inhibitor

Light has been shown to be a potent sleep inhibitor. The explanation behind this phenomenon is closely related to the hormone melatonin. When we are in the presence of light, the presence of melatonin in our body decreases significantly. Melatonin increases the sensation of sleep, making it easier for us to fall asleep more quickly and improving the quality of sleep.

This explains how our biological regulator works and why we often wake up naturally without the need for an alarm clock. Humans are biologically programmed to sleep at night. When we study our hormonal behavior during the night's rest, we easily realize that the secretion and inhibition of our hormones require a nightly sleep schedule to function normally.

Artificial light

Regarding the impact of light on our sleep, the effects of artificial light are often overlooked. Artificial light, especially from electronic devices such as cell phone, television and computer screens, has the same effect on us as natural light.

When our brain detects the presence of blue light coming from these devices, it cannot distinguish whether it is a natural or artificial source, so its reaction is to send signals that we are in the presence of daylight hours, which leads to a decrease in the hormone melatonin and the feeling of sleep decreases.

Light as a stimulus

Leaving aside the significant impact that both n