Circadian Health: Why Timing Matters for Heart and Metabolic Health
Original Article: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/aha-circadian-health-key-cardiometabolic-disease-prevention-2025a1000tx2
Recent guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) emphasize that our internal 24-hour body clock—our circadian rhythm—plays a key role in heart health, blood pressure control, metabolism, and the risk of cardiometabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Modern Habits Disrupt Our Body Clock
Exposure to artificial light at night, irregular sleep schedules, late-night meals, and shift work can disrupt natural circadian rhythms. Experts describe this as a “modern epidemic,” with widespread negative effects on health. Misaligned rhythms can also worsen health disparities, especially among people with non-traditional work hours.
Behaviors That Affect Circadian Health
The AHA highlights four behavior-timing factors that influence our body clock:
- Light exposure: Morning sunlight helps set your internal clock. Avoid bright or blue light at night.
- Sleep timing and duration: Consistent sleep schedules support overall health.
- Meal timing: Eating earlier in the day aligns with natural metabolic cycles.
- Exercise timing: Physical activity in sync with your body clock can improve outcomes.
Practical Tips for Better Health
Simple steps can help maintain healthy circadian rhythms: stick to regular sleep and wake times, enjoy morning sunlight, eat earlier, limit late-night screen exposure, and time exercise and meals according to your natural rhythm.
Advice for Clinicians
Healthcare providers are encouraged to consider sleep and circadian patterns when advising patients. Chronotype—whether a person is a morning “lark” or night “owl”—can guide lifestyle recommendations for optimal metabolic and heart health.
Maintaining proper circadian health is a promising, low-cost way to prevent cardiometabolic diseases. Timing matters just as much as what and how much we eat, sleep, and move.
