American health study: Irregular sleep seriously damages the heart

2025-05-23 18:20:00, Shëndeti CNA

Even if you get enough sleep, an inconsistent sleep-wake schedule can put your heart at risk. An international study has found that people with irregular sleep schedules face a significantly higher risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure, regardless of whether they get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

In the study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, researchers followed more than 72,000 adults for nearly eight years and found that those with the most chaotic sleep patterns appeared to have a 26% higher risk of serious cardiovascular events compared to people who kept a regular schedule.

And as they report, even if someone slept the recommended hours, irregular sleep was still associated with heart problems.

American health study: Irregular sleep seriously damages the heart

Heart at risk from irregular sleep

According to the researchers, people with irregular sleep patterns appeared to have a 26% higher risk of suffering a major cardiovascular event compared to those with a consistent sleep pattern. Even those with moderately irregular sleep habits had an 8% higher risk.

This link appeared to be strongest for heart failure, with people with irregular sleep facing a 45% higher risk compared to people with consistent sleep.

The researchers also looked at the combination of sleep regularity and duration. People with irregular sleep faced an increased cardiovascular risk, even if they slept the recommended 7-9 hours (for adults under 65) or 7-8 hours (for people 65 and older).

While getting enough sleep partially offset the risk for those with moderately irregular sleep, it did not appear to help those with the most irregular patterns.

American health study: Irregular sleep seriously damages the heart

How can we get into a program?

The relationship between irregular sleep and cardiovascular problems appears to be proportional—the more irregular the sleep schedule, the greater the heart risk. However, the researchers identified a tipping point: An SRI score of at least 77.1 was associated with a 15% reduction in cardiovascular risk, while the average score of 80.8 was associated with an 18% reduction in risk.

For those who want to improve their sleep schedule, researchers recommend maintaining a consistent sleep and wake schedule, even on weekends, establishing a relaxing sleep routine, and creating an environment that is conducive to it./CNA