#23 - Light and Sleep: The Legend of Blue Light

When it comes to healthy sleep, plays a huge role. The discussion often vilifies light, in particular blue light, but is it always bad? In this episode we will:Discuss light's role in the regulation of our circadian rhythm and by proxy, sleep.Understand the anatomy of how light interacts with the eye/retina, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the pineal body, and eventually creates melatonin suppressionUnderstand how blue light came to be acknowledged as the fundamental light color of this processDifferentiate light quality and light intensity and further differentiate light intensity at the source (lumen) and destination (lux)Find out that even small amount of light or sustained light at night (LAN) can disrupt sleep and diminish healthExplore how lighting that capitalizes on these characteristics can promote sleep and also support wakefulness.Learn about products meant to diminish light and enhance lightTouch upon the practical/research implications of light pollution and light manipulation in novel environments (submarines)Produced by: Maeve WinterMusic by: Dr. Abhinav Singh (@sleep_vigilante), all rights reservedMoreTwitter: @drchriswinterIG: @drchriwinterThreads: @drchriswinterBluesky: @drchriswinterThe Sleep Solution and The Rested ChildThanks for listening and sleep well!