Adult life is tiring. There is work to do, chores to complete, and people that we love to take care of. We often trade sleep for a bit more time to get things done or enjoy ourselves. Unfortunately, not prioritizing sleep can have health consequences. Luckily, Light Therapy can help us be healthier, help us feel better and make sure that we get through the things we need to do in a busy world!

What are sleep disorders/What is healthy sleep?

Most adults need 7-9 hours of quality sleep to function well in daily life⁴. This can be a lot to ask for people that have work, families and social activities. However, getting enough quality sleep is worth it, reducing the risk of heart disease, obesity, and poor mental health⁴. Unfortunately, prioritizing sleep is easier said than done. Some signs of unhealthy sleep or not getting enough sleep are⁴:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Inability to fall asleep
• Inability to stay asleep
• Poor sleep quality
• Difficulty focusing during work or activities

Sleep disorders are associated with changes in inflammation in the body². When we do not get enough sleep, we have inflammation and oxidative stress build-ups in our bodies². With Light Therapy, those effects can go away and make us feel better. Inflammation is crucial to sleep, and reducing excess inflammation can result in higher quality sleep⁷.

As people age, they tend to sleep less and get less efficient sleep, even without a diagnosis of a sleeping disorder⁵. They also tend to wake up more during that sleep^3,5. When we age, we are more likely to suffer from insomnia, or the inability to sleep when we want to³. In addition, older adults suffer more from inflammation and oxidative stress. A key function of sleep is to decrease oxidative stress². However, if one does not get good sleep, the body is not able to decrease oxidative stress as effectively². Light Therapy decreases oxidative stress and can help people that get poor sleep feel better and be healthier.

How does Light Therapy help sleep disorders?

Inflammation is associated with oxidation and cell death, increased aging and not enough sleep^1,2. Light therapy alleviates inflammation and allows the brain to recover¹. Light therapy decreases inflammation in the body and can help you get to a more "restful" state to sleep better. It also works to relieve the inflammation and stress from not sleeping. A healthy brain is better able to facilitate sleep, both in duration and in sleep quality. 

What do current evidence-based treatments look like?

Currently, they are not many effective sleep treatments. Drug based treatments are the most common, but often these medications have severe side effects⁶. These medications can become addictive and have detrimental effects on cognition⁶. Some behavioral training and meditation may help, but may not have direct physiological effects⁶.

How can Light Therapy help you sleep?

Light Therapy is a quick, easy and repeatable treatment to improve sleep. Light Therapy can help alleviate the underlying physical symptoms of poor sleep, helping you sleep well and get the energy you need for a busy life.

Where can I experience Light Therapy?

Light Lounge™ is based in Evergreen, CO. We specifically use high-end medical devices that are FDA approved. Book your FREE therapy session here and visit us at our retail location in Evergreen! To be on track with the latest updates and news from Light Therapy world, connect with us on facebook and twitter.