How Blue Light Can Affect Your Health and How to Protect Yourself

The prevalence of technology in our lives has brought with it a new strain of health concerns. We are continuously exposed to blue light, which is emitted by electronic screens. Inadequate knowledge about the impact of extended blue light exposure on our health, eye damage is becoming more common, and sleep patterns are increasingly disrupted. This article will explore how blue light can affect your health and how to protect yourself from its harmful effects.

How Blue Light Can Affect Your Health
Blue light can cause several types of damage to our health. The most noticeable impact is on our eyesight. The extended use of electronic devices can cause Eye Strain, also known as Computer Vision Syndrome, which leads to blurry vision, headaches, and dry eyes. While the blue light emitted by screens can’t damage your retina directly, it can accelerate Macular Degeneration — the deterioration of the part of the retina that controls our central vision. It’s essential to take steps to protect your eyes from prolonged exposure to blue light.

Blue light can disrupt our circadian rhythm, which regulates our sleep-wake cycle. Exposure to blue light at night suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. This can lead to a delayed sleep schedule or even Sleeplessness. The disrupted sleep cycle can lead to fatigue, irritability, and overall poorer health.

How To Protect Yourself From Blue Light Exposure
Several measures can be taken to protect ourselves from blue light exposure, including:

1. Take frequent breaks -It’s essential to give your eyes a break from the screen every twenty minutes. Follow the 20-20-20 rule, focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes.
2. Wear Blue Light Blocking Glasses -These prescriptive or non-prescriptive glasses have yellow-tinted lenses that cancel out blue light. They’re becoming increasingly popular among people who work on computer screens frequently.
3. Reduce Screen Brightness- Lowering the screen’s brightness can reduce blue light exposure significantly.
4. Use Night Mode -Most electronic devices come with night mode functionality. It changes the screen color to orange tones to reduce blue light exposure at night.
5. Limit screen time- Minimize screen time before bed, especially for children. Encourage activities like reading or board games instead.

Conclusion
Blue light from electronic screens can have severe implications for our health. It can disrupt our sleep-wake cycle and cause significant damage to our eyesight. It’s important to protect ourselves through some simple steps, including taking frequent screen breaks, limiting screen time, and using blue light blocking glasses. By taking control of our exposure to blue light, we can safeguard our health, improve our sleep quality, and enhance our overall wellbeing.