Late Nights and Heart Health: What You Need to Know

Being a night owl might not be as harmless as it seems. Recent findings suggest that people who stay up late could be putting their heart health at risk. The study looked at over 320, 000 adults in the UK, asking them if they saw themselves as morning people, night owls, or somewhere in between. Researchers used a scoring system called Life's Essential 8 (LE8) to measure heart health. This score includes things like diet, exercise, sleep, and other health factors. They found that night owls had worse scores than those in the middle group. In fact, night owls were nearly 80% more likely to have poor heart health compared to the middle group. Morning people, on the other hand, had a slightly better score than the middle group. The study also found that night owls had a 16% higher risk of heart attack and stroke. However, most of this risk came from other factors like smoking, lack of sleep, high blood sugar, and poor diet. Smoking was the biggest factor, accounting for 34% of the increased risk.Interestingly, the effects of being a night owl were stronger in women than in men. Women were 96% more likely to have poor heart health scores compared to 67% in men. This could be because women often have more responsibilities at home and work. The study suggests that the problem isn't just about staying up late. It's about the lifestyle choices that come with it. Things like smoking, not getting enough sleep, and poor diet can all add up to increase the risk of heart disease. Experts recommend making small changes to improve heart health. Quitting smoking is a big one. Also, trying to go to bed at the same time every day can help. Even small changes like taking a short walk or cutting back on salt can make a difference.