Even Low Light Exposure During Sleep May Raise Your Risk of Heart Failure, AFib

A new study suggests that light exposure during sleep could raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yana Iskayeva/Moment/Getty Images New research shows that even dim light during sleep may thicken heart muscle walls and reduce heart flexibility, potentially raising cardiovascular risk. The findings build on prior evidence linking nighttime light exposure to cardiovascular disease risk. Optimizing your sleep environment can help protect your heart health. Sleeping in dark conditions may be important not only for quality sleep but also for heart health. New research suggests that nighttime light exposure is associated with subtle changes in the heart, and even low levels of light — as low as 3 lux — could have negative effects over time. For context, moonlight is less than 3 lux, whereas the glow of a smartphone is much higher. Researchers analyzed data from more than 11,000 UK Biobank participants who wore wrist devices measuring light exposure. At around a three-year follow-up, the researchers used cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine their hearts. Participants exposed to higher levels of nighttime light showed signs of cardiac remodeling, including slight…

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