Light at Night Helps Sight but Hurts Health, Says AMA

The American Medical Association (AMA) at their annual meeting in Chicago last month warned that using light at night is bad for health, reports Photonics Development LLC. The damage is related to the disruption of the circadian (daily) rhythm and the loss of melatonin that occurs when the eyes are exposed to light during the evening and night. The human body can produce melatonin, the sleep inducing, cancer fighting hormone for 12 to 14 hours a night if the person is in darkness, but the average American is in darkness for only six to eight hours. Such a disruption in the circadian rhythm reportedly could prevent sound sleep, increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and breast and prostate cancer.  Scientists at John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH, developed light bulbs that don’t produce the melatonin suppressing blue rays and eyeglasses that block them, according to Photonic. These products have been available since 2005 on the Internet at http://www.lowbluelights.com. Read more.