light and health

When considering personal health, one may think of exercise or dietary actions and how those certain decisions may influence them mentally and physically. One factor that appears to go unnoticed when understanding one’s health however, is their personal exposure to light. Studies have shown that changes in light patterns have a strong impact on one’s behavior and health, mentally and physically.

Lifestyle as a concept is diverse. The routines we live and the choices we make, different they may be, the presence of pattern is inevitable, as well as the constant exposure to light. As a society, awareness of light and its impact on individual health should become a dominating factor in our lifestyles. Most people are aware of how, when the day has ended and night has begun, that our energy and wakefulness naturally decreases. What many may not understand is the awareness our brains have of light patterns, more specifically, the ganglion cell, which senses changes in brightness and darkness, signaling to the body how to react. Too much exposure to daylight has shown to negatively impact one’s health (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This then raises concerns as to how to maintain a balance of light exposure, for studies have also shown that too much exposure to solar or electric lighting impacts heart rate patterns. Night-shift nurses or factory workers who work in environments involving such exposure, for example, tend to be in risk of cardiac problems.

How do we as a society find a balance of light exposure and how it can impact our mental and physical health when a majority is not even aware of its presence? A solution is work with light, understand the exposure and its impact, and ultimately learn how to control it according to the environment. Whether this be through architectural changes, or electrical, a society should first be aware. Once one can understand how their daily lifestyle and health in their environment is influenced, one will hopefully be open for change.