Ambient lighting conditions in your home can influence almost every aspect of your life from your mood to how well you sleep. After generations of evolution our body clocks still rely on the natural cycle of sunlight to regulate our circadian rhythm.
These rhythms synchronize many aspects of our physiology, especially sleep cycles. Installing dynamic lighting in your home can help regulate your circadian rhythm which optimizes your health through balancing your sleep cycle.
Circadian lighting health benefits
Sleep is one of the most important factors contributing to human health and well-being. Getting healthy sleep helps regulate your metabolism, strengthens your memory and regulates your emotions. However, one-third of adults in the United States suffer from sleep deprivation which has led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to label the issue a public health concern.
Since our daily schedules don’t correlate with sunrise and sunset any more Mayo Clinic doctors suggest circadian lighting as a way to keep your sleep schedule in sync with the natural day/night cycle of the sun.
Having your circadian rhythm functioning normally allows your body to secrete melatonin, the hormone which helps you sleep, at the right time. It also regulates when cortisol, the hormone stimulating wakefulness in the morning, is released into your system.
Installing circadian lighting is the newest way to optimize your health and wellness. Studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic have shown implementing circadian lighting into your home improves sleep, lowers stress levels and increases brain function.
According to Dr. Frank Scheer, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, your circadian rhythm is a product of the body clock. The main clock is located in the brain with trillions of smaller clocks throughout the body in virtually every cell.
Having your circadian rhythm disrupted puts these clocks out of sync which can lead to multiple health issues such as diabetes, obesity, depression and dementia. Other health problems linked to a disrupted circadian rhythm include nocturnal asthma, and heart attacks.
Understanding circadian lighting
Circadian lighting changes the kelvin rating or color temperature of your indoor lights throughout the day keeping your circadian rhythm balanced. In the morning the light will have a bluer hue and a greater intensity, simulating the dawn sunrise and helping you wake up faster.
As time moves on the color temperature will change. In the afternoon the lighting will have a high intensity of whiter light providing you with energy throughout your day.
When you get into the evening hours the lights will start dimming and the color temperature will change to a warmer amber color matching the late afternoon light of the sun. The warmer light helps your body recognize it is time to slow down and get ready to sleep.
Companies like Delos have created circadian lighting systems for your home to keep your circadian rhythm in sync. The system created in a partnership with the Mayo Clinic Well-Living Lab, has preconfigured algorithms in the system providing your home with optimal lighting conditions and automatically adapts to your location’s sun cycle.
Having a circadian lighting system installed in your home will help you fall asleep, stay asleep and give you more energy throughout the day.
Installing circadian lighting in your home will help anyone who is looking to optimize their health. Being aware of the effect light has on your body and having your circadian rhythm in sync is important in having a healthy lifestyle while deterring negative health events.
Author:
Michael Frackman is the System Design Consultant for Automated Environments in Mesa, Arizona. Automated Environments has been installing residential/commercial audio, visual, security and smart systems in the central Arizona area for 25 years.
