Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function

pnas.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 124 posts

Re: Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function

#51

Post by copperx »

jb1991 wrote: post #47
NortySpock wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a generic statement, look for a silk sleep mask. While not often actually silk, they tend to be soft polyester and use fabric filler rather than near-credit-card-grade plastic. (I agree, I don't understand firm sleep-masks) In the photos (I know they're photoshopped these days), look for the mask to actually wrap around the user's face, and look for photos that show the same material on both sides (so you can see…

I have heard that, since polyester is carcinogenic, it’s unwise to have things in your bed or near your face for long periods of time that are made mostly of polyester. I would be a little concerned about a sleep mask sitting on my eyes and near my nose and mouth for 1/3 of my life.

Do you also avoid polyester clothes?

Re: Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function

#53

Post by tlokas »

cj wrote: post #29
scruple wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't use a set of blackout curtains, but I know several friends that say it makes a real difference. Maybe a year ago, I was planning on having a sleep study done. At some point in my 30s I stopped feeling like I was recovering when I slept. I decided, however, that there were some things that I could work on improving before having a sleep study. Most of what I addressed falls under sleep hygiene: Blackout curt…

Blackout curtains are great for sleeping, but I have trouble waking up and getting out of bed when the room is still completely dark (when it’s light outside in the AM). Recently bought some Hue smart lights to simulate sunrise with blackout curtains which is helping. Next up, motorized blinds that open at a scheduled time. (#firstworldproblems)

I live in the arctic, and black out curtains in the summer is a must have (as it's daylight 24/7 for a month). And around december it's dark 24/7, so a sunrise lamp helps a lot to wake up naturally and not feel like total crap every morning.

Re: Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function

#54

Post by ad404b8a372f2b9 »

social_quotient wrote: post #22

I find these stickers helpful for a ton of little lights in the bedroom LIGHT DIMS Black Out Edition - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009WSN8PK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_...

I use electrical tape to cover those and it's made a world of difference, it's crazy how many items have LEDs in them. Power strips, clocks, monitors, charger cables, my synth, ... My girlfriend thinks I'm nuts because I'll get up in the middle of the night to tape over previously undiscovered LEDs.

What do we need all these LEDs for?!

Re: Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function

#55

Post by makeitdouble »

erosenbe0 wrote: post #21

One night? You could probably repeat this experiment with fart stench or any other obnoxious irregularity and find impairment of glucose tolerance at a decent p value. I see the headlines now: "Fart stink during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function." So yeah, guess the wife is getting diabetes if I don't move to the dog house.

Joking (?) aside, cheapish air purifier are reasonably efficient to help for stinks and other air issues during sleep if they have a carbon filter (IKEA ones have the option for instance). Bonus point if they can auto-adjust power depending on the air status, but I don't think that's mandatory.

Re: Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function

#56

Post by scanny »

cj wrote: post #29
scruple wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't use a set of blackout curtains, but I know several friends that say it makes a real difference. Maybe a year ago, I was planning on having a sleep study done. At some point in my 30s I stopped feeling like I was recovering when I slept. I decided, however, that there were some things that I could work on improving before having a sleep study. Most of what I addressed falls under sleep hygiene: Blackout curt…

Blackout curtains are great for sleeping, but I have trouble waking up and getting out of bed when the room is still completely dark (when it’s light outside in the AM). Recently bought some Hue smart lights to simulate sunrise with blackout curtains which is helping. Next up, motorized blinds that open at a scheduled time. (#firstworldproblems)

Here in Germany they have metal shutters that vertically descend and black out all light and sound. It’s common on most windows.

They are permeated with little holes that allows light and sound in if they have not fully descended. If they have then the little holes are folded shut.

I’ve found the same issue where if they’re completely down waking up is hard, so I leave the top two rows of holes open to let in natural light.

I think having a small amount of light gradually filtering in helps a bunch to wake-up.

Video of shutters - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_KePLmie7lE

Re: Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function

#57

Post by isolli »

It reminds me of this article [0], a very interesting read on "surviving" winter in Sweden (and Northern latitudes in general). It ends with how in summer things are flipped and everyone complains about how poorly they sleep.

[0] https://www.ft.com/content/180f3428-1923-11e9-b93e-f4351a53f...

Re: Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function

#58

Post by [deleted] »

copperx wrote: post #51
jb1991 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have heard that, since polyester is carcinogenic, it’s unwise to have things in your bed or near your face for long periods of time that are made mostly of polyester. I would be a little concerned about a sleep mask sitting on my eyes and near my nose and mouth for 1/3 of my life.

Do you also avoid polyester clothes?

[deleted]

Re: Light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function

#59

Post by jcynix »

scanny wrote: post #56
cj wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Blackout curtains are great for sleeping, but I have trouble waking up and getting out of bed when the room is still completely dark (when it’s light outside in the AM). Recently bought some Hue smart lights to simulate sunrise with blackout curtains which is helping. Next up, motorized blinds that open at a scheduled time. (#firstworldproblems)

Here in Germany they have metal shutters that vertically descend and black out all light and sound. It’s common on most windows. They are permeated with little holes that allows light and sound in if they have not fully descended. If they have then the little holes are folded shut. I’ve found the same issue where if they’re completely down waking up is hard, so I leave the top two rows of holes open to let in natural…

> Here in Germany they have metal shutters [...]

Small correction: not metal, these are (mostly) made out of plastic nowadays, sometimes aluminum, and earlier, from wood.

But yes, the effect if they aren't fully closed, is nicely adjustable to limit light without making a room pitch fark.

Post reply on HN