Sleep disorders related to the exposure on artificial light in the night

Abstract

Artificial light disturbing period of nocturnal darkness has a negative impact on sleep. A particularly devastating impact on the natural rhythm of sleep and wakefulness is an evening illumination with the blue light. One of the causes of these disorders is blocking the secretion of melatonin, which supports the normal course of sleep. Inadequate lighting of living areas causes a significant increase in sleep onset latency and the latency of stage 2nd and 3rd of NREM sleep. After the evening 2-hour blue light application the power density of the EEG slow waves in deep sleep and the power of the waves of 2-4 Hz were reduced in the first cycle of sleep. Sleeping in an illuminated bedroom leads to the shallow sleep, too. Regular delay of sleep onset caused by an improper lighting and a lower depth of sleep reduces the amount of nightlong sleep and is one of the types of sleep deprivation, the consequences of which shall be borne by the whole body.