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Evening Light Hygiene

Meaning

Evening Light Hygiene refers to the deliberate clinical practice of minimizing exposure to specific wavelengths of artificial light, particularly blue light, during the hours leading up to sleep. This intervention is crucial for maintaining a robust circadian rhythm and supporting the natural transition to a nocturnal, restorative physiological state. Poor light hygiene can suppress the critical nocturnal release of melatonin and disrupt the sleep-wake cycle, leading to chronic sleep deficiency and associated hormonal and metabolic dysregulation. It is a fundamental component of chronotherapy and sleep medicine protocols designed to protect the central clock.