Individual sleep patterns aren’t a direct death sentence for the heart, but forced adaptation to social schedules can trigger vascular accidents, according to neurologist and sleep specialist Irina Zavalko, PhD. In a commentary for Pravda.Ru, the expert analysed data on the relationship between bedtime and the risk of myocardial infarction.
Previously, the journal Sleep Health published the results of a study involving over 4,500 people. Scientists suggested that going to bed too early or too late correlates with an increased risk of myocardial infarction.
According to Zavalko, the sample size of 5,000 people for the population study is small, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. The main problem lies not in the chronotype itself (morning or evening), but in sleep deprivation, which often affects “night owls” forced to rise early for work. Furthermore, systematically reducing rest time triggers pathological processes in metabolism and blood vessels.
“Long sleepers often have cardiovascular disease, but this isn’t due to the duration of sleep per se, but rather to the fact that they already have other illnesses. The same applies to chronotypes: in the study, the average chronotype, which comprised the majority of the sample, was characteristic of younger participants. And age is a significant risk factor for myocardial infarction: the older a person is, the higher the likelihood of this event,” she explained.
The neurologist noted that other underlying factors, including sleep apnea, could have influenced the results. Such pathologies are common in people with an evening chronotype. It’s important to consider that chronic nocturnal snoring combined with pauses in breathing places excessive strain on the myocardium.
The expert also emphasized differences in ethnic groups: data obtained from studies of the Chinese population may not be applicable to Europeans or Russians due to genetic factors. An irregular bedtime is considered far more dangerous than a specific bedtime. Constant overwork and chronic stress damage vascular health faster than a late night.
“The late chronotype often suffers from sleep deprivation because they are forced to wake up early, and on weekends they compensate by sleeping longer. This difference between weekday and weekend sleep duration also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. If a person maintains a regular sleep schedule, it’s unclear what mechanisms might influence the heart,” the neurologist said.
To maintain good health, it’s important to focus on your personal sleep needs. Some people are genetically predisposed to need 9-10 hours of sleep, and this is not a medical condition. However, it’s important to understand that interrupted breathing during sleep significantly increases the risk of vascular complications.
The sleep specialist recommended maintaining a stable daily routine, regardless of a natural tendency to rise early or late. Even minimal predictability helps the body allocate resources effectively. A well-established daily routine is a fundamental element in the prevention of many chronic illnesses.
– Pravda.Ru
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