Lighting, Sleep, and Health: How LEDs Can Help
One of the conditions the human body evolved to need and expect is
sunlight. Unsurprisingly, spending so much of our time indoors and out
of the sun can have potentially negative impacts on our health, physical
and mental. Spending time in the sun, on the other hand (with sunscreen
mindfully applied), has a multitude of potential health benefits.
Unfortunately, knowing that doesn’t do a whole lot of good for the
millions of people who need to work, happen to work indoors, and
therefore don’t really have any choice in the matter. Thankfully, there
are ways to reduce the harm caused by a lack of sunlight.
Fluorescent Light Issues
Lacking sunlight in general is a frustrating ailment for many who work indoors. One of the often cited factors contributing to unpleasant working conditions is fluorescent lighting. The light is considered “cold,” the illumination can seem flat and wash things out, and fluorescent lights can buzz and flicker in a way that gives some people headaches (particularly those with light sensitivity).
LED lights can at least mitigate some of the issues around indoor lighting. LED bulbs and tubes can produce a kind of light that is very close to the spectrum of natural daylight. While this doesn’t come with the direct benefits of real sunlight, it’s possible some of the disliked factors of fluorescent lights could be mitigated by replacing fluorescent tubes with LED tubes.
Circadian Rhythm and the Spectrum
One of the major ill-effects noted by a lack of sunlight is a lack of sleep. Fluorescent light is not the fuller-spectrum natural light the body relies on. And missing out on that spectrum of light can interrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythm, which in turn can negatively impact sleep patterns. In fact, some research has even found that people who worked under artificial lighting slept 46 fewer minutes a night on average than those who were exposed to natural, fuller-spectrum light during the workday. Missing out on sleep is bad enough on its own, but sleep deprivation can also be accompanied by a number of additional problems. Getting enough sleep is very important for maintaining overall health.
One of the major contributing factors to interruptions in a natural sleep schedule is blue light. During the day it’s best to be exposed to light that’s close to natural blue light emitted by the sun. In the evening, however, blue light keeps us awake and stops us from sleeping. LED lights can not only reproduce the sun’s natural blue light more accurately than any other type of lighting, but some can also be automated to change color temperature and remove blue light in the evenings, benefitting everyone’s sleep schedule.
SAD and the Light Spectrum
Among the most common and well-known apparent consequences of too little fuller-spectrum light is seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. SAD is a condition in which someone experiences depression during the fall and winter. It’s generally accepted that one of the major causes of SAD is the decline in the amount of natural light someone is exposed to when the days shorten during the fall and winter seasons.
That’s why one of the frontline treatments for SAD is light therapy. Light therapy generally involves the use of a “lightbox,” a device that emits bright, white, full-spectrum light of 10,000 lux or more. Light boxes often use LED technology to as closely resemble natural sunlight as possible. Considering the use of LED lighting in therapy for seasonal affective disorder, it isn’t a large leap of logic to assume that replacing traditional inefficient fluorescent lighting with LED spotlight bulbs could have considerably positive results in terms of mood, sleep quality, and productivity.
About Hyperikon
Since their founding in 2010, Hyperikon has established their place in the industry as a premier LED lighting provider. For both commercial and residential lighting, Hyperikon focuses on innovation, sustainability, and ease of use to ensure the best customer experience possible. Since the beginning, Hyperikon has placed a premium on helping every business and customer improve their power efficiency, contributing to greener world and a lower power bill. Check their website for offers on LED bulbs, LED tubes, LED recessed lighting, LED street lights, and LED lighting solutions for every home and business’s needs. Hyperikon proudly holds a great number of U.S. patents and their products feature more than 700 certifications and qualifications.
Find out exactly how bright, warm, efficient, and long-lasting LED lighting is with Hyperikon, at Hyperikon.com
Fluorescent Light Issues
Lacking sunlight in general is a frustrating ailment for many who work indoors. One of the often cited factors contributing to unpleasant working conditions is fluorescent lighting. The light is considered “cold,” the illumination can seem flat and wash things out, and fluorescent lights can buzz and flicker in a way that gives some people headaches (particularly those with light sensitivity).
LED lights can at least mitigate some of the issues around indoor lighting. LED bulbs and tubes can produce a kind of light that is very close to the spectrum of natural daylight. While this doesn’t come with the direct benefits of real sunlight, it’s possible some of the disliked factors of fluorescent lights could be mitigated by replacing fluorescent tubes with LED tubes.
Circadian Rhythm and the Spectrum
One of the major ill-effects noted by a lack of sunlight is a lack of sleep. Fluorescent light is not the fuller-spectrum natural light the body relies on. And missing out on that spectrum of light can interrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythm, which in turn can negatively impact sleep patterns. In fact, some research has even found that people who worked under artificial lighting slept 46 fewer minutes a night on average than those who were exposed to natural, fuller-spectrum light during the workday. Missing out on sleep is bad enough on its own, but sleep deprivation can also be accompanied by a number of additional problems. Getting enough sleep is very important for maintaining overall health.
One of the major contributing factors to interruptions in a natural sleep schedule is blue light. During the day it’s best to be exposed to light that’s close to natural blue light emitted by the sun. In the evening, however, blue light keeps us awake and stops us from sleeping. LED lights can not only reproduce the sun’s natural blue light more accurately than any other type of lighting, but some can also be automated to change color temperature and remove blue light in the evenings, benefitting everyone’s sleep schedule.
SAD and the Light Spectrum
Among the most common and well-known apparent consequences of too little fuller-spectrum light is seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. SAD is a condition in which someone experiences depression during the fall and winter. It’s generally accepted that one of the major causes of SAD is the decline in the amount of natural light someone is exposed to when the days shorten during the fall and winter seasons.
That’s why one of the frontline treatments for SAD is light therapy. Light therapy generally involves the use of a “lightbox,” a device that emits bright, white, full-spectrum light of 10,000 lux or more. Light boxes often use LED technology to as closely resemble natural sunlight as possible. Considering the use of LED lighting in therapy for seasonal affective disorder, it isn’t a large leap of logic to assume that replacing traditional inefficient fluorescent lighting with LED spotlight bulbs could have considerably positive results in terms of mood, sleep quality, and productivity.
About Hyperikon
Since their founding in 2010, Hyperikon has established their place in the industry as a premier LED lighting provider. For both commercial and residential lighting, Hyperikon focuses on innovation, sustainability, and ease of use to ensure the best customer experience possible. Since the beginning, Hyperikon has placed a premium on helping every business and customer improve their power efficiency, contributing to greener world and a lower power bill. Check their website for offers on LED bulbs, LED tubes, LED recessed lighting, LED street lights, and LED lighting solutions for every home and business’s needs. Hyperikon proudly holds a great number of U.S. patents and their products feature more than 700 certifications and qualifications.
Find out exactly how bright, warm, efficient, and long-lasting LED lighting is with Hyperikon, at Hyperikon.com
Comments
Post a Comment