The importance of the internal clock
In life, some people spend their daily lives “offbeat”. This may be those who work night shifts or those who go to bed and wake up at odd times. As a result, sleep and meal times are also staggered.
The proper functioning of our body is ensured by our internal clock. Also called the biological clock, it regulates the rhythm of our vital functions by sending signals to the body to indicate when to sleep, eat or secrete hormones. It is she who is at the origin of the circadian rhythm, a cycle of approximately 24 hours which coordinates and synchronizes all of these functions in the body.
If getting used to this irregular rhythm of life makes it natural, the body does not agree. When sleep, meals, light and physical activity follow a regular rhythm, the heart and metabolism work more harmoniously, but this is not the case in people who are out of sync.
Cardiovascular health depends on the circadian rhythm
In fact, researchers from the American Heart Association, an American non-profit organization that promotes appropriate cardiac care, were interested in the effect that a shifted pace of life can have on our body, particularly on our cardiovascular health.
In a study published on October 28 in the journal Traffic,
the research team explains that it has gathered all the necessary evidence to show how a shift in daily schedules can put a strain on the cardiovascular and metabolic systems.
To do this, they brought together numerous studies that have dealt with this subject, starting with a meta-analysis published in 2012 in the journal BMJ. The latter explains that people working shifts or night shifts, such as nurses or hospital doctors, present an increased risk of vascular problems, which increases with the duration of work.
A study published in 2021 in the journal JACC Journals, has for its part highlighted the link between an increased risk of developing cardiovascular problems and irregular bedtimes and waking up times. Such an imbalance can lead to a drop in blood pressure.
Meal times are just as important
If the times we go to bed and get up have an impact on our circadian rhythm, and therefore on our cardiovascular health, the times we eat also play an important role.
The researchers mentioned a French study published in 2023 in the journal International Journal of Epidemiology. Eating breakfast after 9 a.m. has been associated with a significantly higher risk of type 2 diabetes than if we ate it before 8 a.m.
Type 2 diabetes is known to greatly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The way the body uses glucose can actually damage the heart and blood vessels, according to the American Heart Association.
Sleep, meals or even light, which inhibits the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, can therefore disrupt the rhythms of the heart, vessels and liver, affecting tension, inflammation and metabolism, if they are poorly synchronized with our internal clock.
“Everyone has an internal clock, and it’s time to start listening to it. Simple changes, like going to bed and getting up at the same time, can make a significant difference to your heart and metabolic health,” said Dr. Kristen L. Knutson, associate professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and senior author of the study.
The researchers end by recommending that people working odd hours use bright lights at work, wear sunglasses on the way home, keep their rooms dark and quiet, or even eat their meals at set times.
Source: earth.com
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