Adhering to a sleep schedule can be tough. But if you’re keen on maintaining your cardiovascular health, going to sleep between 10 and 11PM, may be worth the extra effort.
A recent study in the European Heart Journal-Digital Health analyzed the sleeping patterns of over 88,000 adults and found that those who fell asleep during the “sweet spot” between 10 and 11PM are less likely to contract heart disease than those who fall asleep earlier or later.
In fact, the study showed that the subjects who fall asleep before 10PM were 24% more likely to develop heart disease than people who nod off between 10 and 11 PM, while those who fell asleep after 11PM were 25% more susceptible to heart-related, health issues.
Why does this happen? David Plans a neuroscientist and the co-author of the study said in a statement, “The body has a 24-hour internal clock, called circadian rhythm, that helps regulate physical and mental functioning… While we cannot conclude causation from our study, the results suggest that early or late bedtimes may be more likely to disrupt the body clock, with adverse consequences for cardiovascular health.”
Curiously, the study claims that men are more at risk of heart disease if they fall asleep early, and the reverse is true for women.
Changing your bedtime may help you to further a heart-healthy lifestyle.
According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the number 1 cause of death in Americans. So, any little bit, will help.
On the journey to being more heart healthy, the words of Neil Young’s Heart of Gold may provide some inspiration.