More and more individuals are falling asleep with the TV on, whether for background noise, out of habit, or for a sense of companionship. However, scientific research has begun to highlight the potential consequences of this habit, which extend beyond mere personal preference. Sleeping while watching television exposes the body to a constant source of artificial light,disrupting fundamental biological processes,including the circadian rhythm,and also cardiovascular and metabolic functions. This seemingly harmless behaviour can have measurable impacts on overall well-being.

A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has revealed that exposure to light during sleep can alter key bodily functions, such as insulin resistance and heart rate. These findings, supported by additional research, suggest that keeping a light source like a television on during the night can directly contribute to the advancement of chronic diseases. Simultaneously, psychologists have taken an interest in individuals who choose to sleep with the television on, as this pattern may indicate specific emotional states, such as anxiety or fear of loneliness.

What Happens When You Sleep While Watching TV?

The PNAS study, titled “light exposure during sleep impairs cardiometabolic function,” was conducted by researchers from the University of Northwestern in the United States. It involved a series of experiments that analyzed how artificial light affects the body during sleep.

The study revealed that participants who slept exposed to dim light, similar to that emitted by a television, experienced an increased heart rate during the night,