Circadian rhythm plays a fundamental role cardiometabolic health, but too many Americans do things to undermine their body’s natural cycles, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

“The statement urges basic scientists and clinicians to understand how the role of light timing, sleep timing and duration, timing of meal intake, and exercise timing can have substantial effects on cardiometabolic health,” said Diana Martinez, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical sciences at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey.

The document was published recently in Circulation.

‘A Modern Epidemic’

Dayna A. Johnson, PhD, MPH, MSW, MS, distinguished associate professor at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta and vice chair of the writing committee for the statement, said the evidence for a link between circadian health and cardiometabolic risk has become increasingly strong.

“Over the past decade, we’ve accumulated compelling research showing that our body’s 24-hour biological clock fundamentally regulates heart health, blood pressure, metabolism, and more,” Johnson told Medscape Medical News.

Source: MEDspace