How Light Can Affect Your Child’s Circadian Rhythm

How Light Can Affect Your Child’s Circadian Rhythm

According to research, preschool children who are exposed to blue light (1000 lux)from electronic devices in the evening, exhibit little to no production of melatonin. This suppression leads to disturbed circadian rhythms in children.

For the study, children who were aged 3 to 5, were purposely exposed to bright light an hour before their regular bedtime. The production of melatonin hormones stopped within 10 minutes and stayed suppressed for almost an hour after they were no longer being exposed.

Melatonin contributes to a healthy circadian rhythm and peaceful sleep, and its suppression can lead to several other health issues in children in the long run.

WhenCan Too Much Light Be Bad?

In 2015, a study was conducted on children who lie in the age bracket of 9 to 16 years. The study found that younger children were more sensitive to light than 16-year-olds. Children were exposed to different levels of light between 15 lux to 500 lux (equal to the light from an incandescent bulb). It was found that dim light level suppressed melatonin production to 9%, whereas brighter light suppressed it to up to 37% in younger kids.

Exposure to high amounts of bright light can lead to depression, suicidal thoughts and even cancer in younger children.

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Light Exposure and Cancer in Children

The relationship between circadian rhythm and cancer in adults has been a part of several studies, but very few studies have studied the relationship in children. While an indirect relationship has been found with regards to children, the issue requires more research.

Leukemia is the most common type of cancer found in children, which is caused by the uncontrolled growth of white blood cells. This aggravated growth is due to the abnormal functioning of stem cells. Recent studies showed that the growth of stem cells was under the control of circadian rhythm, and a circadian disruption due to increased light exposure can disrupt the growth of stem cells.

Light from Incandescent Bulbs

Incandescent or traditional bulbs produce a high amount of blue light with a short wavelength that affects melatonin production in children. Children who are exposed too much of blue light may take longer to sleep, and wake up feeling very sleepy even if they have had a healthy sleep of eight hours. On the other hand, LED lights are healthier and more eco-friendly than traditional lights.

We’re sureyou’re concerned about your child’s health; minimize their exposure to blue light to protect them. Get in touch with RHK Electrical for top-quality LED lighting solutions in Katy, TX. To learn more about our services, contact us at +1 832 948 6019.

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