People Going to Bed Late More Likely to Die Young (Study)

A new study suggests that people going to bed later have a higher risk of poor health and dying young than “morning people.”

The new research involved 430,000 participants from the U.K. in the 38-73 age bracket. Volunteers were tracked for nearly seven years. At the end of the period, scientists took a look at mortality rates in the so-called night-owls and morning people.

The study found a link between going to bed late and a 10 percent higher risk of prematurely dying when compared to morning folks. Those who claimed they were an evening person had a higher risk of gastrointestinal disease, diabetes, neurological issues, and mental health issues.

The study appeared this week in the Chronobiology International.

Study authors believe that the link between poor health and sleeping late may have something to do with the way the internal body clock works. There is also the issue of “social jet lag,” with people going to bed later on weekends than they would normally would.

Body-Clock Disruptions Tied to Poor Health

Researchers underlined that their link does not prove a cause-and-effect association. Other factors may influence the risk of early death and ill health like age, obesity, gender, and addictions.

Also, isolation, poor diet, stress, and alcohol abuse can lead to a poor health in the long run, regardless of the morning or evening type.

The latest study shows that being a night-owl might result in poor health. Past studies have found a link between disruptions in the body clock and higher risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression.

Being a morning or an evening person is 20 percent to 50 percent influenced by our genetics. The rest is influenced by our lifestyle.
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