Being a Night Owl May Up Your Risk of Heart Disease
Research published in the American Heart Association has found that those who go to bed later and stay up later are more likely to experience cardiovascular disease. The study looked at over 300,000 adults, with one-third identifying as night owls and falling asleep after midnight.
While being a late riser may provide extra energy for evening activities or staying up to watch TV, it's not all good news for the heart. In fact, those who fell into this category were 79% more likely to have poor cardiovascular health scores than their morning-lifting counterparts.
The researchers believe that lifestyle factors such as smoking and a poorer diet may contribute to this increased risk. Additionally, staying up late can disrupt the body's natural rhythms, which can affect overall heart health.
According to lead study author Sina Kianersi, "evening people" often experience circadian misalignment, meaning their internal clock doesn't align with the natural day-night light cycle or daily schedules. This mismatch may be a major factor in the increased risk of cardiovascular disease among night owls.
The study found that women were more likely to experience poor cardiovascular health outcomes than men who were also classified as night owls. However, the researchers noted that being a night owl is not an inherent sign of poor health - rather, it's often due to lifestyle choices.
Interestingly, while this may seem like bad news for night owls, the study suggests that there are options available to improve cardiovascular health. As Kristen Knutson, a researcher who chairs the AHA's 2025 statement on the circadian system and heart disease, noted: "Evening types have options to improve their cardiovascular health." So while being a night owl may come with some extra risks, it's not necessarily a lost cause - it just requires a bit more effort to get things right.
Research published in the American Heart Association has found that those who go to bed later and stay up later are more likely to experience cardiovascular disease. The study looked at over 300,000 adults, with one-third identifying as night owls and falling asleep after midnight.
While being a late riser may provide extra energy for evening activities or staying up to watch TV, it's not all good news for the heart. In fact, those who fell into this category were 79% more likely to have poor cardiovascular health scores than their morning-lifting counterparts.
The researchers believe that lifestyle factors such as smoking and a poorer diet may contribute to this increased risk. Additionally, staying up late can disrupt the body's natural rhythms, which can affect overall heart health.
According to lead study author Sina Kianersi, "evening people" often experience circadian misalignment, meaning their internal clock doesn't align with the natural day-night light cycle or daily schedules. This mismatch may be a major factor in the increased risk of cardiovascular disease among night owls.
The study found that women were more likely to experience poor cardiovascular health outcomes than men who were also classified as night owls. However, the researchers noted that being a night owl is not an inherent sign of poor health - rather, it's often due to lifestyle choices.
Interestingly, while this may seem like bad news for night owls, the study suggests that there are options available to improve cardiovascular health. As Kristen Knutson, a researcher who chairs the AHA's 2025 statement on the circadian system and heart disease, noted: "Evening types have options to improve their cardiovascular health." So while being a night owl may come with some extra risks, it's not necessarily a lost cause - it just requires a bit more effort to get things right.
like i always thought being up late was cool but now im all worried 
i have friends who are total night owls and they always seem so much fun 
but what if its not just a party lifestyle that's killing them? 
maybe we need to rethink our sleep schedules and start getting some morning sunlight in our lives 
i mean dont get me wrong being a night owl can be awesome for productivity and creativity and all that jazz but is it really worth risking our heart health? 
i think its time to start taking care of ourselves, even if we're not morning people 
I gotta say, I'm kinda surprised by this study 
. But at the same time, it's not like I'm living under a rock or anything – I try to eat well, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep... even if that means going to bed early sometimes 
.
. Like, sure, smoking and junk food are definitely no-nos – but moderate drinking or a good hobby can actually help counteract some of the negative effects.
.
I've always been a night owl and I know some people might say I'm crazy for staying up till 3 am watching Netflix or gaming 
. But what's scary is that 79% of us are more likely to have poor cardiovascular health if we're like me 
. I never thought about how my late bedtime could be affecting my heart, but now I know I need to make some changes 
. Maybe it's time for me to establish a bedtime routine or find new activities that don't involve screens before bed 
. Who knows, maybe being a night owl isn't all bad, just means we need to be more mindful of our lifestyle choices 
, but it looks like being a night owl isn't as bad as we thought 
.
. So if you're one of those people who's always been a late riser, it's not necessarily because you're doomed or anything 
. It just means you might need to make some adjustments to your habits.
. Like, we don't have to be slaves to our circadian rhythms or anything! We can find ways to work with our bodies instead of against them 
. I've always been a late riser and loved the energy boost that comes with it, but now I'm starting to think twice about my sleep schedule 
. But at the same time, I get it - lifestyle factors like smoking and diet can make a huge difference in heart health 
. Maybe I'll try incorporating some healthier habits into my evening routine, like meditation or a relaxing walk outside