Turn off the lights and tv to get better sleep

It’s time to re-think the tiny light in your bedroom. Or the light coming from the tv.

A Northwestern Medicine study found that sleeping with light in the room — even moderate light — can affect your body while you sleep.

Researchers found that light exposure during sleep can increase heart rate and keep the body from fully resting the way it should overnight.

It may also affect how the body regulates blood sugar the next morning.

Another important part of the research: light exposure during sleep has been linked with higher rates of conditions like obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure — all things that matter when we talk about heart health.

As a heart failure survivor, I am paying attention and now I’m looking at my bedroom a little differently. The TV glow, the phone charger, the alarm clock, the light sneaking in through the blinds — it all adds up.

Experts suggest making your room as dark as possible: turn off the TV, dim electronics, close the curtains, and try an eye mask if you need one. If you use a nightlight, keep it dim and low. I use a sleep mask to help block out the light.

Better sleep is important for everyone — but for those of us who think about heart health, this feels like a simple change worth making.

Read more about the sleep study here