Irregular sleep rhythm threatens the health of middle-aged people

Irregular sleep rhythms, regardless of how long one sleeps, are associated with poorer cardiovascular health in middle-aged people, according to scientists. joint research of the University of Oulu and the Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation (Finland).

According to these findings, published in the Journal of Activity, Sedentary Life and Sleep Behavior, an inconsistent sleep schedule appears to particularly increase waist circumference, Ep reports.

This is the first large-scale population study focusing on middle-aged people who used an activity monitor. to measure physical activity and sleep rate. According to the results, physical activity reduced the harmful association between irregular sleep patterns and cardiovascular risk factors.such as blood sugar levels, triglyceride levels or blood pressure.

Regardless of the amount of physical activity and time spent in bed, irregular sleep rhythm was associated with larger waist circumference among study participants. “The association was statistically significant, although the differences in waist circumference between those who went to bed regularly and those who went to bed irregularly were not very large,” said lead researcher Laura Naucha.

The study used extensive research data collected from people born in 1966 in northern Finland. The follow-up study included a total of almost 3,700 participants aged 46 years. They completed health and lifestyle questionnaires and took part in a clinical examination that included body measurements, blood pressure, blood lipids, and an oral glucose tolerance test. Physical activity and sleep rate were measured using an activity tracker worn on the wrist.

On average, middle-aged participants went to bed at 11:22 p.m., woke up at 7:17 a.m., and had an average time in bed of 7 hours and 57 minutes. For half of the participants, the time they went to bed, the time they got up, and the time they spent in bed varied by at least one hour from their weekly average.. “The average amount of time spent in bed for middle-aged people is expected to provide an adequate and recommended amount of sleep at night, which is 7 to 9 hours. However, it should be noted that the greater variability in sleep rhythm relates to the average time when we go to bed and later when we get up,” reflects Laura Nauha.

Previous population-based studies related to sleep rhythm and cardiovascular health have primarily focused on shift workers. However, other factors besides working hours also influence sleep rhythm.

“Since the functioning of a person’s internal rhythm is physiologically based on cycles of approximately 24 hours, in addition to the amount of sleep and physical activity, You should pay attention to the regularity of your sleep rhythm from day to day.. Health recommendations should take more into account a person’s circadian rhythm, regularity of sleep rhythm and physical activity than they currently do,” Nauha sums up.