Sleeping with Lights on May Increase Heart Disease Risk

JAKARTA - Some people feel more comfortable sleeping with the lights on. However, recent research reveals that this habit can have a negative impact on heart health.

In the study involving nearly 90 thousand adults, researchers found that exposure to bright light while sleeping is associated with cardiovascular disease, even the risk of death from heart disease.

In the study, respondents were asked to wear a light sensor device on their wrists while sleeping. For almost a decade, researchers then compared the level of nighttime light exposure with various diagnoses of heart disease, such as heart attacks, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and strokes.

The results showed that people exposed to the brightest light while sleeping were 56 percent more likely to have heart failure and 47 percent more likely to have a heart attack, compared to those who slept in the dark.

In addition, the group was also 32 percent more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease, and 30 percent more likely to have a stroke, regardless of the duration or quality of their sleep.

The study also revealed that women are more vulnerable. Exposure to bright light at night can increase the risk of coronary heart disease higher than men.

"Exposure to light at night is a significant risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease in people over 40 years of age. Avoiding light at night can be a simple strategy to reduce the risk of heart disease," said the researchers in the journal JAMA Network Open, quoted from Female First, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Sleep health researcher, Dr. Daniel Windred said that light can disrupt the body's circadian rhythm. This is what ultimately triggers physiological imbalances, which have a negative impact on cardiovascular disease.

"If this disorder occurs continuously, the risk of cardiovascular disease can also increase," said Daniel.

Neurologist, Prof Frank Scheer, said that minimizing light while sleeping can reduce the risk of heart disease for those with cardiovascular problems. You don't have to sleep in completely dark conditions, but you can dim the lights.

"Just use very dim light, equivalent to the light of five candles from a distance of one arm. This light still allows us to see around, but it's still safe," Scheer concluded.