- New research suggests that aligning exercise times with an individual's natural chronotype, whether a “morning person” or “night owl”, could significantly reduce the risk of developing heart problems.
- The study, published in the journal Open Heart, involved 150 participants aged 40-60, all presenting with at least one heart risk factor such as high blood pressure or obesity.
- Participants were assessed for their chronotype and then randomly allocated to exercise groups where their workout schedule either matched or did not match their natural preference over a 12-week period.
- While all participants showed improved health indicators, those whose exercise times were matched to their chronotype experienced greater reductions in blood pressure and enhanced heart rate, aerobic capacity, and sleep quality.
- Experts advocate for the inclusion of chronotype assessment in exercise prescriptions, suggesting that personalised, time-matched interventions could lead to better outcomes and improved engagement in clinical and public health settings.
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