The Bedtime Mistake Destroying Your Heart

If you ever doubted the fact that your body has an internal clock and thrives on routine, just take a look around.

The restrictions put in place in an effort to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 are throwing everyone for a loop.

Some people are forced to work overtime, while others aren’t able to work at all. And still others are trying to work and homeschool kids since schools are closed.

America’s collective routine has been turned on its head… and people everywhere are feeling the effects.

But even amidst these uncertain times, there’s one thing that’s especially important to keep consistent.

Your heart could depend on it.

Even if your entire day is turned upside down, try to keep a consistent bedtime.

In a recent study, researchers analyzed data on 557 college students to see if bedtimes had an effect on resting heart rate.

If the students went to bed later than their usual bedtime (up to 30 minutes), they experienced increases in their resting heart rate.

And the later the bedtime, the higher the heart rate.

These increases lasted through the entire next day.

This can have a significant impact on your heart, since a boost in your resting heart rate increases the risks to your cardiovascular health.

Going to bed earlier than normal was also associated with higher heart rates, although these increases leveled out the next day.

Interestingly, these negative impacts on heart health occurred even when people got the optimal amount of sleep each night.

Most studies on sleep seem to focus on the importance of getting enough sleep.

This one highlights the fact that following a sleep routine—which includes going to bed at a consistent time each night—is just as important.

I know life can seem a bit unpredictable right now as we deal with the coronavirus pandemic, but if there’s one thing you can make consistent, make it your bedtime.