American Heart Association: Disruptions to circadian rhythm increase heart disease risk

The American Heart Association released a scientific statement maintaining disruptions to people’s circadian rhythm can increase their risk of cardiovascular disease and other conditions such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. The association said light exposure and other factors such as mistimed sleep, food intake and exercise could cause disruptions. Shift work can cause disruptions as well. “Multilevel interventions and policy changes are needed that promote education on proper timing and regularity of sleep-wake cycles and meal schedules and facilitate improvements in, for instance, workplace and neighborhood environments,” the association states. People should get exposure to bright morning light and avoid light at night, and they should appropriately time sleep, meals and exercise, according to the association. (Circulation article, 10/28/25)