In general, light levels are associated with certain attitudes, such as darkness with sadness. But how does the lack of light really affect a person’s life beyond the moods? How does poor lighting in the home affect health? It is important to differentiate between the damages that the lack of any type of lighting has for the body and the damages of not perceiving enough natural light .
Commonly, inadequate lighting can cause eye fatigue, fatigue, headaches, stress and domestic accidents, in addition to the obvious damage to eyesight that comes with performing tasks in insufficient light. Likewise, incorrect lighting can be the cause of inadequate posture that triggers, in the long term, muscular ailments.
Natural lighting
All vital functions undergo differential regulation depending on the time of day. This regulation is carried out in a cyclical way, day after day, and is called “circadian rhythms”.
Through circadian rhythms, the body releases a series of substances into the bloodstream that promote activity during the day and rest at night. The duration and the start and end time of these cycles are determined by the hours of natural light.
The alteration in the sequence or order of these rhythms has a negative effect in the short term. Many travelers have experienced jet lag, with its symptoms of fatigue, disorientation, and insomnia. In addition, some psychiatric and neurological disorders and some sleep disorders are associated with irregular functioning of circadian rhythms in general.
Knowing that sunlight is what regulates the activity of many of the vital functions of the body, you can see the great importance of good lighting . In addition, it is necessary to emphasize the essential thing to measure well the way and the intensity with which the natural light penetrates the houses, taking into account the time that is spent throughout life at home.
The alteration of circadian rhythms in the long term could have harmful consequences in multiple systems, particularly in the development of cardiovascular diseases.
To achieve a healthier life, good lighting must have a fundamental role in planning the home, so that maximum performance is obtained at daylight hours, making the most of natural light, of perceiving the necessary light to carry out all kinds of tasks when the night falls and of course to leave the home completely dark if so desired.
In this projection of the home it is essential to take into account the type of room and what is the optimal way to illuminate it . Complementary elements such as lamps or curtains should also have special attention given their influence on the passage and blocking of light into the house.