Being a night owl could lead to heart problems
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- According to a study conducted by the Journal of the American Heart Association, adults who stay up late have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
About 1 in 4 U.S. adults regularly stay up past midnight, a habit that doctors say can come with serious health consequences.
Dr. Debabrata Mukherjee of Texas Tech Health El Paso said people who stay up late often experience circadian misalignment which is when the body’s internal clock does not align with the natural light-dark cycle.
“And that leads to increased stress hormones, increased sympathetic activity, often leading to altered cortisol levels, increasing inflammation, and increasing the risk of heart disease, particularly strokes and heart attacks.” Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee cited findings from the UK Biobank indicating that much of the risk is tied to lifestyle factors, including poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking. He said those factors, combined with circadian misalignment and inflammation, can significantly raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Late nights are often part of college life. At the University of Texas at El Paso, some students say they feel more productive after dark.
“I usually like to read better at night and then if I have something to do, like homework or writing, I also focus better at night,” said Annette Martinez, a student at the university.
Sebastian Mimbela, another student, said that even when he gets eight hours of sleep, he doesn’t always feel rested.
“I thought that sleeping more time will help me out, because sometimes I want to sleep until 2 a.m. and then wake up at 10,” Mimbela said. “That’s eight hours. And I wouldn’t still function.”
Experts generally recommend adults get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. But Mukherjee said quality and consistency matter as much as duration.
To reduce health risks, he recommends maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
For those struggling to sleep, experts advise speaking with a primary care physician.
