Mother was right: Go to bed before midnight

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This is not the best news for night owls.

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A study published in the European Heart Journal suggests that heart health is associated with an “ideal” bedtime of between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Reporting on the study, the BBC said researchers believe synchronizing sleep to match our internal body clock may explain the association found with a reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The body’s natural circadian rhythm figures into well-being and alertness. Humans are meant to sleep at night and be awake during daylight.

Over seven days, about 100,000 sleep volunteers wore a device that allowed researchers to collect data on their sleep and wake times.

The volunteers were then followed up for an average of six years, with an eye to their heart and circulatory health.

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About 3,000 of the adults developed cardiovascular disease, and many of them went to bed before 10 p.m. or after 11 pm.

That association continued even when researchers made adjustments for things such as sleep duration and sleep irregularity.

Researchers also factored in age, weight, and cholesterol levels.

The riskiest time to go to sleep, according to study author Dr. David Plans, “was after midnight, potentially because it may reduce the likelihood of seeing morning light, which resets the body clock.”

He emphasized that the study cannot prove cause and effect, but added, “the results suggest that early or late bedtimes may be more likely to disrupt the body clock, with adverse consequences for cardiovascular health.”

The accepted wisdom is that adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep every night; it is well known that getting enough sleep is crucial to general health.

Regina Giblin, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, told the BBC: “This large study suggests that going to sleep between 10 p.m. and 11p.m. could be the sweet spot for most people to keep their heart healthy long-term.”

She reiterated that the study shows an association, but does not prove cause and effect.