Do you often fall asleep with the television still playing in the background? Our body has an internal clock called the circadian rhythm. This rhythm responds strongly to light and darkness. Darkness signals that it is time to wind down and supports the natural release of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep. Artificial light at night can interfere with this process.
Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times. She joined Hindustan Times to simplify wellness subjects by cutting through jargon. She has over 9 years of experience writing about fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, translating medical research and expert insights into practical advice readers can trust. Career journey and experience Tavishi began her health journalism journey in 2017, and has since reported for RSTV, Financial Express, Jagran, HT Media Labs and Zee.
Education and professional background Tavishi holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and began her career reporting on public affairs for broadcast. Editorial Philosophy I write with one single goal: To simplify health in a world full of noise by finding what’s actually doable, safe, and evidence-based for my readers. I test claims against research and user experiences. About three years later, they underwent cardiovascular MRI scans, allowing researchers to closely examine the heart’s structure and function. Explaining these findings, “This study shows that greater exposure to light at night was associated with measurable differences in heart structure and function. We should take that association seriously. Even a minimal light exposure can affect you. This is not limited to television viewing specifically. Light sources can include TVs, streetlights, lamps, and other sources,” Dr Anil (Col) Dhall, Head of the Department, Cardiology, Shalby International Hospital, Gurgaon, tells Health Shots . Shorter sleep duration statistically explained a substantial part of the association between nighttime light and the cardiac changes. In other words, sleep itself may be an important part of the story. “The real concern may not be the television itself. It is the disruption of the natural nighttime environment, light exposure, disturbed sleep, and the effect these may have on our body clock. You do not necessarily need to throw the television out of your bedroom. But if you use it to fall asleep, set a sleep timer rather than leaving it on all night. Keep unnecessary lights off, reduce screen exposure close to bedtime, and use curtains or blinds to block bright outdoor light. (Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.)
When all else fails, I speak to the expert who sees 50 patients a day, not the one with the most followers. A study published in the European Heart Journal examined 11,071 UK Biobank participants who wore a wrist device with a light sensor. The researchers estimated that shorter sleep duration statistically mediated around 24% to 49% of the observed associations.
We still need more research to understand exactly how much each of these factors contributes,” says Dr (Col) Anil Dhall. Those early years in policy and TV shaped how she writes today: fast, factual, and human-first.
Subject expertise With 9+ years tracking India’s health conversations, Tavishi knows the gap between clinical advice and daily life. She knows fads from fundamentals and curates science-backed, expert-recommended solutions. In fitness, she breaks down bodyweight training, recovery, and posture fixes for desk-bound readers. In nutrition, she translates guidelines into affordable, desi meal tweaks. In mental well-being, she focuses on stigma-free, actionable tools — all backed by research, expert input, and lived context.
From decoding health trends and interviewing doctors to testing fitness routines herself, Tavishi always approaches content with one filter: “Will this help someone make a better decision today?
