Good sleep hygiene calls for, among other things, a cool, dark and relaxing environment. It turns out the dark part is key to helping prevent heart disease.

People who are exposed to more artificial sources of light at night have a greater risk of developing major heart conditions, according to research being presented this week at an American Heart Association conference. The study has implications for public health, because urban areas expose people to abundant amounts of artificial light at night, also called "light pollution," the researchers said. MORE: Need to lower your cholesterol? The portfolio diet might be worth a try

"We found a nearly linear relationship between nighttime light and heart disease: the more night-light exposure, the higher the risk," the study's senior auth

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