Habits Like Smoking and Drinking Account for Night Owls' Higher Mortality Rate, Study Finds8/6/2023 Studies have revealed that night owls face an increased risk of premature death compared to early risers, but it appears that bedtime alone might not be the main cause. New research suggests that harmful habits, such as smoking and drinking, play a significant role in explaining why early risers tend to live longer despite the health risks experienced by night owls. The study, conducted in Finland, revisited data from over 23,000 people surveyed in 1981, all aged 41. Participants were asked to identify their morning or evening preference, and self-reported data on smoking and drinking habits were collected. By 2018, more than 8,700 study participants had passed away. Those who identified as "clearly" night owls showed a 21% higher risk of death from any cause compared to those who identified as "clearly" morning people. The Finnish researchers aimed to understand findings from a British study, which showed a 10% higher death rate among night owls. This study, based on information from more than 430,000 individuals over a 6.5-year period, revealed that night owls were more likely to have psychological disorders, diabetes, and respiratory problems. Additionally, they were more prone to smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs. In Finland, researchers delved deeper into their data to explore how the higher mortality rate among night owls might be linked to their harmful behaviors. After accounting for factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, chronic diseases, sleep duration, and education, they found that the death risk among night owls was approximately 9% higher than that of morning people, similar to the British study. Drinking and smoking were found to be significant factors contributing to the higher risk of death among night owls compared to early risers. The occurrence of alcohol-related diseases and alcohol poisoning was 92% higher among "clearly" evening people than "clearly" morning people, and deaths due to lung and airway cancers were 78% more likely among night owls, who had a higher prevalence of smokers. Study co-author Jaakko Kaprio, a professor of genetic epidemiology at the University of Helsinki, emphasized that being a morning or evening person itself is not dangerous, but rather the associated lifestyle factors. While the analysis in Finland reduced night owls' increased death risk to 9% higher than early risers, Kaprio suggested that the discrepancy might be even lower, considering that the study only examined drinking habits at a specific point in time in 1981. Previous research has indicated that being a night owl or an early bird may have a genetic component, rather than being solely a matter of choice. Despite the risks associated with staying up late, being a night owl also comes with some advantages, such as having larger social networks, which may mitigate the negative health effects of loneliness. Overall, the study findings from Finland underscore the importance of examining all habits that can contribute to poor health rather than solely attributing the risk to one's chronotype.
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