Exposure to bright light at night — including the glow from mobile phones — may significantly increase the risk of heart failure, according to new research.
Scientists from Flinders University, Australia, analyzed over 13 million hours of light exposure data from nearly 89,000 UK participants who wore wrist sensors and were monitored for more than nine years.
The study revealed that individuals exposed to light at night had a 56% higher risk of heart failure, 47% higher risk of heart attack, 32% higher risk of coronary artery disease, and 28% higher risk of stroke.
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, the research emphasized that adults over 40 are particularly susceptible, with women and younger people showing greater vulnerability.
The authors suggested that minimizing exposure to bright light at night could be an effective way to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.