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Exposure to Blue Light Could Help Reduce Blood Pressure, Study Suggests

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If you haven’t heard too much about blue light for blood pressure, expect that to change very soon. Recent research suggests that exposure to blue light can decrease blood pressure, which reduces the risk of heart disease.

A November 2018 study published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology analyzed 14 participants who were exposed to 30 minutes of whole-body blue light at approximately 450 nanometers, which is a dose similar to daily sunlight exposure. This experiment was followed by the participants being exposed to a control light on a different day. Researchers measured the participants’ blood pressure, their stiffness of arteries, and their blood vessel dilation before, during, and after the exposure to the different lights.

Results showed that exposure to whole-body blue light reduced the blood pressure of the participants by nearly 8 mmHg, which is similar to the results of blood pressure-lowering drugs in clinical trials. The control light, on the other hand, had no impact on participants whatsoever.

Researchers also discovered that the blue light exposure reduced arterial stiffness and increased blood vessel relaxation for participants. In addition, they found that exposure to blue light increased levels of nitric oxide, which plays an important role in protecting the cardiovascular system in general. These findings also support the idea that blue light could be helpful for preventing heart disease.

“Exposure to blue light provides an innovative method to precisely control blood pressure without drugs,” said researcher Christian Heiss, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Surrey, in a press release. “Wearable blue light sources could make continued exposure to light possible and practical. This would be particularly helpful to those whose blood pressure is not easily controlled by medication, such as older people.”

Even if blue light exposure doesn’t fit your needs right now, there are steps you can take to avoid major heart problems in the future. Check out some of the best natural ways to avoid stress and learn about some high blood pressure remedies that actually work. Talk to your doctor if you have any major concerns about your hearth health. Remember: It’s never too early to feel better than you did the day before!

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