The experiment involved middle-aged and elderly people (about 57 years old). They were divided into three groups: obvious larks (get up early, go to bed around 21:00), convinced owls (peak activity at night, sleep after 02:00) and the intermediate type, which most of us belong to. Compared to ordinary people, owls are 79% more likely to have poor heart health. Their risk of having a heart attack or stroke is 16% higher in the long term (they were monitored for about 14 years). But the early risers, on the contrary, turned out to be the healthiest — they are 5% less likely to have heart problems than the average. The main problem with owls is out of sync. Their internal clocks are not ticking in time with the solar cycle and the social schedule. Lead author of the study, Sina Kianersi, explains: when your body wants to sleep and you are awake (or vice versa), this leads to disruptions. But it’s not just about biology. An evening lifestyle often leads to a whole list of bad habits. Midnighters smoke more often, eat worse (night snacks are rarely useful) and suffer from lack of sleep trying to get up to work on time. Circadian rhythm expert Kristen Knutson reassures: being an owl is not a sentence. Since the main enemies are bad habits, they can and should be combated. Owls are not doomed to be sick, they just need to put a little more effort into keeping fit. If you like the night, it is especially important for you to monitor the quality of food and give up cigarettes. Moreover, doctors suggest taking the chronotype into account during treatment. Some medications work better if you take them according to your personal biorhythms. Understanding your own characteristics is the key to health. Instead of forcibly retraining yourself to get up at dawn, it’s better to focus on a healthy lifestyle during the hours when you’re awake.