Do you know nightlight is dangerous for your Mental Health? Yes, Nightlight
cause depression. Ok, Let’s know how it works for your depression. In this depression tests on mice. So, it is going more interesting. Keep reading……
How does nightlight cause depression?
For ages, humans jumped up their beds when the sun rose and slept
when the sun sets. However, the moment the light bulb was invented, the night
became day with just a simple flick of a switch. With this, humans were given
the chance to work or stay up late at night.
Beyond our knowledge, the modern practices that we have today may
cause us trouble, according to a recent study done in mice by a biologist at
Johns Hopkins.
The study found that when people stay up late at night, they are
at an increased risk of suffering from depression as well as some learning
issues.
The reason behind the mentioned problems is not only because
of a lack of sleep but also because of the exposure to bright lights at night
produced by lamps, computers, and iPads, to name a few.
Samer Hattar said that when someone is extremely exposed to bright
lights like those in their living room and workplace at night when working the
night shift, they are at a higher risk of an elevated stress hormone in the
body that could result in depression and lower cognitive function.
Samer Hattar is a professor of biology at Johns Hopkins
University’s Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.
Depression Tests on Mice
The study is published on November 14, 2012, in the advance online
publication of Nature. The study done on mice made the researchers realize the
way the special cells in the eye are activated when the eyes are exposed to
bright and this affects the brain’s mood, memory, and learning center.
The said special cells are called intrinsically photosensitive
retinal ganglion cells, also known as ipRCGs.
If you wonder why studies are done on mice, it is because mice and
humans are closely similar in many ways and the presence of ipRGCs is just one
of those similarities, Hattar said.
Scientists also knew that people developed the seasonal affective
disorder, a form of depression, during winter because, in the winter season,
days are shorter.
On the other hand, people with this kind of mood disorder will
benefit from light therapy and regular exposure to bright light.
Tara LeGates and Car Altimus, both graduating students, led the
team of Hattar that did the study.
They expose mice in a cycle of 3.5 hours of light and
another 3.5 hours of darkness. Precious studies using the same process did not
report disturbed sleep among mice but Harrat’s team found out that the animals
develop depressed behavior.
The team observed that mice with increased depression-like
behavior showed a lack of interest in sugar and moved around less than those
mice that were exposed to regular light and darkness.
Read……
In addition, animals under irregular light and darkness
exposure have increased levels of cortisol. Cortisol is the stress hormone that
contributes to learning issues.
With the result of the study, Hattar reminds people to be wary
about their exposure to bright lights at night because doing so regularly might
have some negative effects on their mood. This study proves it nightlight causes depression.
So,
Keep your nightlight safe and cool. Otherwise, it will be harmful to your
health.
Most
people don’t know which is bad for us. I did not know that nightlight cause
depression but when I knew it I thought I should share it with my readers. So
keep learning with the janabujha.com family. Yes, of course, you should conscious about
using a nightlight that is always bright in your room.