Getting enough sleep is part of a healthy lifestyle. Yet one in two Canadian adults have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep. Further, one in five adult Canadians do not find their sleep refreshing. It’s no wonder the global sleep aids market is projected to become a $170 billion industry by 2030.
So, when Canadians hear about a scientifically backed device that can help them achieve a restful night’s sleep, the first thought for many is that it’s too good to be true. Or is it?
Enter the Helight Sleep, a red-light emitting device that was developed in Canada with the help of a cognitive scientist, a medical physicist, and a sleep disorder expert over a three-year period.
“If you don’t understand the science behind it and the relationship with the expression of certain hormones in the brain and those intrinsically photosensitive ganglion retinal cells, it’s hard to understand how this intangible thing can have such a huge impact on the human body,” says company vice president, Greg Bonnier.
In partnership with Helight we look at the science behind this sleep-saving device that’s changing the way people sleep, one night at a time.
How it works
Helight Sleep works by emitting monochromatic red light calibrated at 630 nanometers for a 28-minute period, the average sleep onset time.
It takes advantage of the same science that has proven blue lights from devices and screens can have a detrimental effect on sleep. It has found that red light does the reverse and naturally promotes the secretion of melatonin — the sleep hormone — to achieve a faster and deeper sleep.
“Some hypothesize the 630-nanometer wavelength can help bring you back to a fetal state, which is essentially a very safe and relaxing,” says Bonnier, noting the device is safe for all ages.
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“Babies in the womb use light to regulate hormone secretion and that’s exactly what we do. So, in that sense we can say Helight Sleep is great for babies because it helps them understand when it’s day and when it’s night.”
Helight Sleep is a small device that fits on the nightside table. It comes with a USB charging port and a full charge will last up to 28 cycles. It also comes with a two-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee. To use it, you tap a button and the red light comes on before gradually fading out over the cycle.
“Some people are skeptical and I understand that. I was skeptical at first,” says Bonnier. “It’s one of those things you have to try it to understand how beneficial to your life it can be. If people aren’t happy they can ask for a return under our satisfaction guarantee. We’ve had some people return the device only to buy it back because they realize how much it impacted their sleep.”
According to the company, there are currently 20,000 people using the device across Canada. Some of those customers, says Bonnier, include high-level athletes at the international and Olympic level, MLS and premier League soccer players, and NHL teams. The company is currently in talks to bring the device to NBA players as well, adds Bonnier.
Karam Al-Hamdani, a certified athletic therapist and the head athletic therapist of a professional soccer team in Montreal, was also skeptical when he first heard about Helight Sleep
“They showed me the science behind it, and I was there, scratching my head in their office, like ‘This can’t be true,’” he recalls. Now, he and some of his athletes use the device regularly, especially when they’re travelling and in need of a good night’s rest while staying at a hotel.
“Instead of going towards chemical ways of putting yourself to sleep and waking up groggy, this was a way to stimulate falling asleep naturally,” he explains.
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Al-Hamdani reveals his sleep has drastically improved as a result. “I measured my sleep for a month while using the device and I saw a dramatic increase in my deep sleep, which is the best type of sleep that a professional athlete wants. That’s the restorative sleep that helps the body rebuild.”
On nights he doesn’t set the device, Al-Hamdani says sleep isn’t as restful. The only time he doesn’t use it, though, is when he sets it up in his 15-month-old’s room instead.
“If I don’t get a good night’s sleep, I tend to forget things the next day. I don’t feel like I’m sharp. I’m in a mental fog and everything is slowed down. That’s where Helight Sleep Helight Sleep comes into play,” he adds.
“More people are ready to believe that it’s bad to look at screens, but for some reason, they’re not ready to believe that red light could have the reverse effect,” adds Bonnier. “But the science is there, the evidence is there. Hopefully, soon, people are going to realize that there’s a very easy way to sleep better.”
For more information, visit helight.ca.