Light is everywhere and comprises different color spectrums, including blue light. Sunlight is the biggest source of natural sunlight. However, digital devices and high-efficiency lighting bulbs can also emit blue light. It has higher energy levels and shorter wavelengths that can affect your eyes, brain, and skin.
Due to natural sunlight and artificial sources, such as LED devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets, people are exposed to blue light. A growing body of research evidence shows that long-term exposure to blue light can cause light hangover with symptoms like eye strain, headaches, tension headaches, and migraines.
How Blue Light Causes Hangover?
Blue light is a high-energy light emitted from digital devices. Research shows that it can cause hangover-like symptoms, such as headaches, dry eyes, sore eyes, tired eyes, neck pain, shoulder pain, and light sensitivity.
Computer screens, tablets, laptops, and smartphones can cause digital eye strain. Each of these digital devices emits blue light of a different wavelength. Research studies highlight that blue light is the biggest culprit when it comes to feeling symptoms like hangovers.
Blue light can cause photophobia, a condition characterized by light sensitivity. The disorder affects over 80% of people, leading to tension headaches and migraines. The light sensitivity is intense, meaning you can’t treat it without blue light glasses or spending time in a dark room.
Symptoms of Blue Light Hangover
Studies have concluded that blue, red, white, and amber light can worsen migraines and headaches. Blue light can also increase muscle tension and cause throbbing pain in your body. A recent study shows that green light does not intensify migraines and headaches. Researchers confirmed that green light could improve symptoms of a light hangover.
In addition, blue light activates cells that receive sensory information from external stimuli. These cells send information to the brain. That’s why blue light is more photophobic than other types of light on the visible spectrum. Besides, the brighter the blue light, the more intense your headache will become.
Migraines are the most common symptoms of blue light exposure. Recent studies highlight that blue light can reduce endorphins, chemicals that decrease pain in your body. A low level of endorphins can increase the risk of headaches and migraines. People more vulnerable to hangover-like symptoms have nerve pathways and light receptors with more sensitivity to light.
Researchers suggest wearing high-quality blue light glasses to block all visible spectrum wavelengths expect green light to reduce the risk of migraines and headaches. Studies have confirmed the efficacy of blue light in mitigating the effects of migraines.
Other Symptoms of Hangover Caused by Blue Light
Blue light is the cause of several health conditions, including intense symptoms of a hangover. It is crucial to implement sophisticated ways to reduce blue light wavelengths and promote your health. Here are a few other symptoms of the light hangover.
Sleep Disruption
Numerous systematic review studies have confirmed that blue light can cause sleep disruption, a common symptom that goes hand-in-hand with headaches and migraines. Sleep issues can cause stress, tension headaches, depression, and insomnia.
Low Leptin Levels
Leptin is an important hormone in your body. It tells your body about the energy levels you need after eating a meal. Your metabolic processes will drastically change due to reduced leptin levels.
Remember, a disrupted metabolism can lead to excessive weight gain, leading to obesity and other harmful conditions, such as diabetes, high blood cholesterol, and hypertension. A 2019 research study shows that blue light emitted from smartphones and computers can lower leptin levels in your body.
Skin Damage
Although skin damage is not a direct hangover symptom, research shows that blue light can significantly damage your skin. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation can damage your skin and increase the risk of skin cancer. Blue light can penetrate your skin cells and cause free radicals by decreasing antioxidants.
Due to blue light exposure, free radicals can also damage your genetic material, leading to cancer cells formation. Antioxidants eliminate free radicals and improve your cellular and tissue-level functions. Bear in mind that the dose of blue light is equivalent to one hour sunbathing at noon.
Wear Blue Light Glasses
Blue light glasses can reduce the risk of light hangover and prevent you from developing its symptoms. Not only does blue light glasses improves cognitive function, help memory, and elevate mood, but it also enhances your sleep due to less disruption of melatonin production in your brain.
Blue light glasses can also block shorter wavelengths of the visible light spectrum. Thus, you can protect your retinal cells from harmful wavelengths and reduce the risk of headaches and migraines. Moreover, blue light glasses are also beneficial for computer and smartphones users.
For example, when you work nightshifts and use computers at your office or home, you can wear blue light glasses to increase contrast and reduce glare. As a result, the blue light emitted from the screen does not penetrate your retinal cells. That way, you feel comfortable, calm, and relax while mitigating the dangers of digital eye strain and hangovers.
Furthermore, blue light glasses have special filters in their lenses that absorb a specific wavelength of the visible spectrum that can otherwise harm your eyes and lead to hangover-like symptoms. If you use these glasses when staring at your smartphone, especially after dark, they can reduce exposure to harmful waves. That way, you can reduce the risk of insomnia.
Final Words
Blue light can alter chemical activity in your central nervous system, causing the blood vessels and nerves surrounding your skull, head, and neck muscles, which can lead to primary headaches, tension headaches, and migraines.
Blue light can cause hangover-like symptoms and affect your day-to-day life. It is crucial to wear blue light glasses and follow other preventive methods to maintain the health of your eyes, brain, and other body parts. Make sure you choose high-quality blue light glasses. You can consult your eye doctor or seek help from an expert when selecting blue light glasses.