Do sunglasses help you sleep better at night?
Many adults struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep at night. To help you fall asleep faster, there are a few things you can do, such as breathing exercises, taking a warm shower, listening to soothing sounds, and drinking melatonin tea. What about wearing sunglasses? Do sunglasses help you sleep better at nights by dimming the brightness of electronic devices or do they make you look like a wannabe celeb?
WHY IS SLEEP IMPORTANT?
It can take a toll on your physical, mental and emotional health if you wake up the next morning after a poor night of sleep. It can make you moody and less alert. In long-term cases, it can lead to obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
Adults should sleep at least 7 hours per night, although this can vary from one person to another. It is important that you determine how much sleep you require, and whether your needs are greater or less than the recommended amount. You should know how much sleep you need. If you feel tired, have trouble sleeping, or wake up feeling sleepy, it is likely that you are not getting enough. You might struggle to get enough sleep for many reasons, including the electronics you use before bed.
EXPOSURE TO BRIGHT SCREENS
In the past few years, technology usage has increased. The majority of people are connected to their phones at all hours of the day. Excessive exposure to screens such as televisions, tablets and computers can cause permanent damage to our eyes. But, screens smaller than your eyes and that are closer to your eyes could be the most dangerous and cause you to not be able sleep at night.
After a long day at work people tend to scroll through their phones, binge-watch TV, or both, more often than not. Our bodies may become confused about when we should sleep and when we should get up. Dark sunglasses can help dull the brightness of screens and trick our bodies into thinking it's night. This can lead to blurred vision with objects other than our screen. It wouldn't solve the blue light problem that keeps us awake at night.
THE REAL CULPRIT: The BLUE LIGHT
The visible spectrum of light (RGBIV) is blue light. It is the light that the sun naturally emits and that signals to our bodies that it is time for us to get up. This light can also be emitted by bright screens on the electronics we use. This can confuse our central circadian clock which tells us when to go to bed and when to wake up. This can cause the body to stop producing melatonin, a hormone that aids in falling asleep.
Blue light can interfere with sleep quality so it is advised to put down electronics at least two hours before bed. It is not easy to do this, so blue light lenses are recommended.
BLUE LIGHT LENSES
Blue light lenses do not prevent you from using electronics before bed. However, they can reduce the harmful effects of blue light. Blue light lenses filter blue light, and reduce glare on your screens. These glasses will give you more confidence when using your digital devices. Blue light lenses might not be right for everyone but it is worth a try.
SUMMARY
Your body's circadian rhythm can be disrupted by certain devices, such as your phone, tablet, and computer. Your body can be tricked by the blue light from these devices to think it's still daytime, and not produce enough melatonin in order to help you fall asleep. While sunglasses may reduce the brightness of screens, they are not practical and can make it difficult to see other things. It is possible to reduce the brightness of the screen or use electronic devices in night mode. However, this doesn't completely stop the problem. It is best to avoid using electronics in the night before you go to bed. If you must use these electronics, make sure to use them at night and use blue light lenses.