Misaligned body clocks raise risk factors for heart disease in people

Circadian misalignment increased 24-hour systolic blood pressure by 3.0 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 1.5 mmHg in healthy adults.

• Short-term circadian misalignment involved 12-hour inverted behavioral and environmental cycles for three days.
• Blood pressure during sleep opportunities rose significantly, with systolic blood pressure increasing by 5.6 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 1.9 mmHg.
• Wake periods showed a lesser increase in blood pressure, with systolic and diastolic pressures rising by 1.6 mmHg and 1.4 mmHg, respectively.
• Cardiac vagal modulation during wakefulness decreased by 8-15%, as indicated by heart rate variability analysis.
• There was a 7% reduction in the 24-hour urinary epinephrine excretion rate, with no significant change in norepinephrine excretion.
• Inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, resistin, and tumor necrosis factor-α increased by 3-29%.

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