Blue wavelengths which are beneficial during daylight hours because they boost attention, reaction times, and mood—seem to be the most disruptive at night. At night, light throws the body’s biological clock the circadian rhythm out of whack. Sleep suffers. Worse, research shows that it may contribute to the causation of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Here are a myriad of ways how blue light from your phones and computer screens can affect your health :

  • Affects Memory – The disruption to your sleep schedule might leave you distracted and impair your memory the next day.
  • Affects Learning – A poor night’s sleep caused by smartphone light can make it harder to learn.
  • Build Neurotoxin – Over the long term, not getting enough sleep can lead to neurotoxin buildup that makes it even harder for you to get good sleep.
  • Depression – People whose melatonin levels are suppressed and whose body clocks are thrown off by light exposure are more prone to depression.
  • Increases Obesity Risk – By disrupting melatonin and sleep, smartphone light can also mess with the hormones that control hunger, potentially increases Obesity risk.
  • Harms Retina – There’s some evidence that blue light could damage our vision by harming the retina over time, though more research is needed.
  • Causes Cataracts – Researchers are investigating whether or not blue light could lead to cataracts.
  • Causes Cancers – There’s a connection between light exposure at night and the disturbed sleep that come with it and an increased risk of breast and prostate cancer.

Even if there are so many health effects of blue light, we can’t stop using electronic equipments. So prevention is better than cure. Use dim red lights for night lights. Red light has the least power to shift circadian rhythm and suppress melatonin. Expose yourself to lots of bright light during the day, which will boost your ability to sleep at night, as well as your mood and alertness during daylight. Hope this helps.

33 responses to “How Blue Light Affects Our Health”

  1. Thanks very excellent message, I would like to share it. Thanks

    On Sat, Sep 28, 2019 at 10:44 AM Be Inspired..!! wrote:

    > Garima posted: ” Blue wavelengths which are beneficial during daylight > hours because they boost attention, reaction times, and mood—seem to be the > most disruptive at night. At night, light throws the body’s biological > clock the circadian rhythm out of whack. Sleep suffer” >

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Sure. I am glad you liked it.

      Like

  2. Sometimes I use a red light of I happened to get what looks like a pimple coming in. The SAL3 soap has overall kept the outbreaks in check. But if one slips through, the red light helps.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you very much for sharing that tip with us.

      Like

  3. Hello Garima, i like your post… can we please talk inbox

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Send me your email address.

      Like

  4. Wow this is good information. Thanks for posting.😊

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you. I am glad you liked it. Blue light exposure may increase the risk of macular degeneration. The fact that blue light penetrates all the way to the retina (the inner lining of the back of the eye) is important, because laboratory studies have shown that too much exposure to blue light can damage light-sensitive cells in the retina.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You are welcome, so good to know. This insight is health. 😊🌸

        Liked by 2 people

  5. You can use night mode, reduce brightness and set color temperature to warm to reduce blue light effect but best of all these is that use smartphone at night less.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes manoj. by enabling night mode on your devices, you take away the blue light. This allows your brain to to go back to your natural circadian rhythms and help you fall asleep faster and deeper. Of course, avoiding using your devices before bed works too, but most of us are guilty of checking emails, Facebook, and other apps before bed. But anything in excess is bad. Limit your use of technology.

      Like

  6. Hey, really useful post. I have a question. What about the “night mode” that many mobiles bring to use? is that useful? The screen goes black and the letters white, but I don’t know if that helps to prevent all the things you’ve mentioned. Nice meeting you here!
    In case you want to visit my blog you can do it at any time and comment on whatever you desire. Hope you see you around. Huggies!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Maria, nice to meet you too here. Night mode doesn’t just help with your health. It’s also great for improving battery life on your devices. While there isn’t a set percentage you’ll save, night mode and blue light filters automatically dim the screen at least a little to reduce the strain on your eyes from screen brightness and blue light.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh yes definitely that would be my first choice too.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Very informative blog..☺️👌

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Nicely written garima.☺️

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you Parag. I am glad you liked it.

        Like

  8. Sound advice at the end. Thank you

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes practical advice 🙂
      Technology is a part of everyday life. We can’t ignore it.

      Like

  9. This is really helpful. I am trying harder to get it over with. Quite addicted to night watching. 😦

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hmm I am addicted to binge watching at night too. Guilty as charged.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Addictions, can’t help sometimes. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Hi Garima,

    This is an epidemic with my teens at school. It’s almost like electronic separation anxiety to even sleep without phones.

    Gary

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Exactly Gary and it’s getting worse

      Like

  11. Your blog is amazing
    Thanks

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Shaista.

      Like

  12. This is great information. Thank you

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Most welcome Hicks.

      Liked by 1 person

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