Few people know that there is a sleeping pattern that can double the risk of stroke and heart attack, especially dangerous for older adults, according to a new study published in the medical journal European Heart Journal.
To accurately investigate the relationship between changes in bedtime, wake-up times, and sleep duration and cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes, scientists from the University of Oulu, Finland, tracked 3,231 participants, with an average age of 46, for over a decade.
Participants wore devices to track the duration and timing of their sleep.
To reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke, you should try to go to bed at a consistent time each night.
Illustration: AI
The results showed that people with irregular sleep schedules faced twice the risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes, particularly noticeable in those who slept less than eight hours per night, according to the medical news website News Medical .
However, irregular wake-up times are not associated with cardiovascular events.
Researchers explain that regularity of bedtime can be important for cardiovascular health. It reflects the rhythm of daily life, and the degree of variability within it.
The study's author, Laura Nauha of the University of Oulu, noted that this was the first time they had separately examined variations in bedtime, wake-up times, and sleep duration to find a link to major cardiovascular events.
Researchers concluded that maintaining a regular sleep schedule is something everyone can do to protect their heart.
Therefore, to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke, you should try to go to bed at a consistent time each night. Irregular bedtimes, especially if you sleep less than 8 hours, can put your heart at double risk.