Exercising at the optimal time of day for your individual body clock may play a significant role in reducing the risk of heart attacks, according to recent research findings.
The study focused on the significance of circadian rhythms and whether an individual is naturally inclined to be an early riser or a night owl. Results from a trial indicated that aligning exercise with your body’s ideal time of day led to notable improvements in various aspects of heart health, particularly in enhancing blood pressure levels and sleep quality.
Experts believe that the outcomes of this study, published in the journal Open Heart, could pave the way for genetic testing of heart patients by the NHS to determine whether morning or evening exercise is more beneficial for them.
Dr. Rajiv Sankaranarayanan from the British Cardiovascular Society emphasized the relevance of these findings for preventive cardiology within the NHS, stressing the importance of incorporating simple chronotype assessments into lifestyle recommendations to boost patient adherence and outcomes, especially for those with hypertension or cardiometabolic risks.
The research, conducted by a team from the UK and Pakistan, involved analyzing the chronotypes of 150 individuals aged between 40 and 60, all of whom had at least one heart risk factor like high blood pressure, obesity, or sedentary behavior. Participants completed detailed lifestyle questionnaires and underwent core body temperature testing over 48 hours.
During the 12-week trial, participants were divided into groups based on their chronotypes for exercise sessions scheduled either between 8 am and 11 am or 6 pm to 9 pm. Prior to and after the trial, measurements such as blood pressure and fasting glucose levels were taken. The study revealed improvements in heart health risk factors, aerobic fitness, and sleep quality in both groups.
However, the group that exercised at the time aligned with their chronotype, such as morning individuals working out before starting their day, experienced greater enhancements. These individuals saw more significant reductions in blood pressure and notable improvements in heart rate, aerobic capacity, and sleep quality.
Researchers highlighted that exercising at the most suitable time for an individual’s body clock could optimize muscle and fat tissue activity while reducing harmful inflammation. Dr. Arsalan Tariq from the University of Lahore in Pakistan suggested that implementing “chrono-exercise” principles, which involve scheduling workouts based on an individual’s biological clock, could offer a novel approach to enhancing preventive cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes.
This study follows a previous report by the Mirror, which emphasized the benefits of physical activity in reducing the risk of various health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer. A review of 85 studies published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine indicated that lifelong physical activity could lower the risk of mortality by 30% to 40%. Moreover, individuals who transitioned from being inactive to active still had a 22% lower risk of mortality compared to those who remained inactive.