Trending Now - Inconsistent Sleep Patterns Linked to Higher Heart Attack Risk

WHO:

ScienceAlert - Researchers from the University of Oulu in Finland conducted the study.

ScienceAlert - Medical researcher Laura Nauha provided insights on the study's findings.

WHAT:

ScienceAlert - The study found that individuals with irregular bedtimes may have double the risk of serious cardiac events, such as heart attacks or strokes.

ScienceAlert - The study tracked sleep behavior of 3,231 individuals aged 46.

ScienceAlert - Out of the 3,231 participants, 128 experienced major cardiovascular events over a 10-year period.

WHERE:

ScienceAlert - The study was conducted in Finland.

WHEN:

ScienceAlert - The study tracked sleep patterns over the course of one week.

ScienceAlert - The 10-year study period for tracking cardiovascular events.

WHY:

ScienceAlert - The study suggests that irregular bedtimes may disrupt circadian rhythms, leading to inadequate heart rest and recovery.

ScienceAlert - Real-world stressors affecting sleep times may also impact heart health.

HOW:

ScienceAlert - Sleep was measured using wearable devices to track sleep behavior.

ScienceAlert - Participants were categorized into regular, fairly regular, and irregular groups based on their sleep habits.

ScienceAlert - The average variability in bedtime for the irregular group was 108 minutes, compared to 33 minutes for the regular group.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 23:11 UTC)

Researchers from the University of Oulu in Finland have found that individuals with irregular bedtimes may face double the risk of serious cardiac events, such as heart attacks or strokes. The study tracked the sleep behavior of over three thousand participants, revealing that 128 experienced major cardiovascular events over a decade, with irregular sleepers showing an average bedtime variability of 108 minutes compared to just 33 minutes for those with regular sleep patterns. Medical researcher Laura Nauha noted that disruptions to circadian rhythms and real-world stressors affecting sleep could significantly impact heart health.