Is too much ARTIFICIAL light and not enough natural light bad for you?

Question

I've noticed that the glare of my computer is quite harsh to the eyes and makes me feel sleepy, but with natural light, i feel happier, almost refreshed

Answer 1

You should take regular breaks from using the computer. Take a five to ten minute break every hour to allow your eyes to readjust.

Answer 2

Many people notice the same thing. There's even a name for it: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Technically, SAD refers to the psychological effects of short days/long nights, such as experienced in the extreme northern or southern latitudes. But it's apparently a very real condition, with measurable biological results. Those results include lethargy, depression, irritability, and others (probably forgetfulness... we've started in on the Grey Time here).

In addition to natural light (sunlight, which can be hard to come by even here at the 45th parallel just south of Portland, OR), there are full-spectrum incandescent lights that can help avoid the feeling of doom and worthlessness that come with month upon month of reduced daylight. We find they help, but our cats have the best idea: when there is a rare break in the cloud cover for a few minutes, during the interminable grey months of October through May, you'll find our cats scattered on the floor in front of the floor-to-ceiling south-facing windows in our main room, each sprawled immobile in a patch of sunlight as if they've been machine-gunned.

Answer 3

Sunlight is good for You-In natural sunlight,Your skin will produce vitamin D that You'd probably need to be taking supplements for if staying indoors for long periods during the (working) day! it doesn't do that under artificial light,and You won't get the benefit through a window,either-Conventional glass blocks UV light,so you can feel the effect of the sun heating Your body indoors,but You won't tan..the condition of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is treated by using regular periods of UV lighting to give the effect of Sunlight.

Answer 4

Well in a way yes. The artificial light can harm you just as much as natural light can, but studies show that natural light gives you more energy.

Answer 5

Just because you drink crystal light doesn't mean that you will get cancer--but it isn't a healthy choice----It is sweetened with aspartame, and aspartame converts to formaldehyde in the body. I think if you just restrict the amount of drinks loaded with aspartame, you will not run the risk---if you get cancer, then you will get it---there are so many pollutants in our environment that it is ridicoulous to blame the possibility of getting cancer on one thing. I went from coke to diet coke and then to diet soda without caffeine--now I went from coffee sweetened with aspartame back to sweeten it with a little sugar(it did not cause me to gain weight). However, I do drink 1-2 cans of diet soda in the evening. I've restricted my aspartame intake to that amount. After all, I started with sweeteners when I was 18 years old--right when they came out and I am 59 now and have no cancer from that.....

Answer 6

natural light is good for you and the brain. yellow light in particluar cannot be filtered by the eyes and goes directly to the brain. this has the same effect as lithium (which is widely used in anti-depressants). this is why you feel happier in natural light. in fact, this feeling is at its peak during sunrise/sunset. people feel 'naturally' happy when viewing the sunset.

Answer 7

yes it must be, I remember when I had a baby, there was a baby in the ward that had jaundice and the midwives told the parent to leave the baby by the window to get the natural light so theres gotta be sommit init!!! you have got me thinking now!!!

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

I can't concentrate one bit when there isn't enough natural light. Everyone's different though- Everyone has different things they are intolerant to.

Answer 10

There is no such thing as artificial light, there's only light of different wavelengths and intensities.