Sleep habits vary from person to person, and some consider themselves “night owls” while others are “early risers.” A recent study conducted over a 37-year period in Finland examined data from nearly 23,000 twins to understand the impact of chronotype on mortality. The results revealed that chronotype had minimal impact on death itself. However, people who considered themselves “night owls” had a higher risk of death. This higher risk was attributable to higher alcohol and tobacco consumption among these individuals.
Researchers followed a group of 22,976 men and women aged 24 between 1981 and 2018. They found that being a night person increased the chances of death due to alcohol and tobacco use nocturnal. Additionally, night work schedules, sleep duration and quality have also been linked to adverse health effects.
Previous research had already suggested that “night owls” were more likely to suffer from heart problems. In this study of twins, 7,591 of them were classified as having some degree of evening preference, 2,262 as having a strong evening preference, and 6,354 as having a strong morning preference.
By 2018, more than 8,700 of the group’s approximately 23,000 participants had died. This meant that “night owls” had a nine percent higher risk of death than “early risers”, regardless of the causes of death.
This study highlights the importance of a healthy and balanced lifestyle, regardless of our preference for waking up or going to bed late. It is essential to take into account factors such as alcohol and tobacco consumption, work schedules and sleep quality to preserve our long-term health.
So, whether you’re a “night owl” or an “early riser”, make sure you practice good sleep habits and take care of your overall well-being.