People with irregular sleep schedules had a 26% higher risk of major cardiovascular events—including heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure—even if they got the recommended amount of sleep. Sleep regularity may matter as much as sleep duration: going to bed and waking up consistently was linked to significantly better heart health outcomes. Even if you’re getting enough sleep overall, inconsistent bedtimes and wake-up times might put your heart at serious risk. An international study shows that people with irregular sleep schedules face a significantly higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, regardless of whether they clock the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night. People with irregular sleep patterns had a 26% higher risk of experiencing a MACE event compared to regular sleepers. Even those with moderately irregular sleep patterns showed an 8% increased risk. This connection was particularly strong for heart failure, with irregular sleepers facing a 45% higher risk compared to consistent sleepers. People with irregular sleep patterns faced an elevated cardiovascular risk even if they slept the recommended 7-9 hours (for adults under 65) or 7-8 hours (for those 65 and older). While sufficient sleep partially offset the risk for moderately irregular sleepers, it didn’t help those with the most erratic patterns. What explains this connection? When sleep patterns vary widely, it causes circadian misalignment, essentially throwing off the body’s internal clock. This disruption can cascade into various physiological changes that stress the cardiovascular system. These disruptions can lead to problems with glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system, all factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease. Irregular sleep patterns were more common among certain groups in the study. People who reported mental health issues, those taking medications for cholesterol, diabetes, or blood pressure, and individuals working night shifts were all more likely to have irregular sleep patterns. Current smokers also tended to have less regular sleep compared to non-smokers.
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