Managing circadian rhythms with intense light and timed treatments may help prevent and treat a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. It is said that it may be useful.

This research today circulation researchthe official journal of the American Heart Association.

“The influence of circadian rhythms on cardiovascular function and disease development is well established,” said Tobias Eckle, MD, lead author of the study and professor of anesthesiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “However, translational preclinical research targeting the circadian biology of the heart is just emerging, leading to the development of a new medical field called circadian medicine.”

The lead author is Professor Tami A. Martino, Distinguished Professor of Molecular and Cardiovascular Research at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

This study reviews current circadian medical research, including the use of intense phototherapy after surgery, the use of light to treat heart damage, and how cardiovascular disease differs between men and women. The focus is on administering drugs at specific times of the day to match the body’s internal conditions. A clock that speeds up healing.

It also recommends more aggressive use of this therapy in humans, rather than relying primarily on animal models.

“Literally millions of patients could potentially benefit from this,” Eckle said. “Almost all treatments are low-risk. Some use light boxes, and others use drugs that are already on the market.”

Circadian rhythms have a major influence on the operation of the cardiovascular system. Timing is everything. Blood pressure and heart rate follow a clear pattern, peaking during the day and decreasing at night. When this is disrupted, cardiovascular disease outcomes such as myocardial infarction and heart failure worsen.

Light is important for maintaining proper balance and function of the body. Shift workers who work nights and then during the day often have worse cardiac outcomes.

Eckle, who has studied circadian rhythms and health for many years, believes that strong light may help the body heal after heart surgery while protecting it from injury, including reducing the chance of cardiac ischemia. He said there is.

Researchers say that when light hits our eyes, it is transmitted to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, a structure in the hypothalamus that regulates most of the body’s circadian rhythms. Intense light protects the heart by stabilizing the PER2 gene and increasing adenosine levels, blocking electrical signals in the heart that cause irregular rhythms.

Dr. Eckle performed phototherapy on patients after surgery and saw positive results, including decreased levels of troponin, an important protein whose elevation can indicate a heart attack or stroke.

Given the growing evidence that intense light and time-limited drug treatments are effective, it’s time for further clinical trials, he said.

“Circadian rhythms play an important role in cardiovascular health, influencing the timing and severity of cardiovascular event onset and contributing to the healing process of disease,” Eckle said. “Studies in humans are clearly needed. When it comes to intensive phototherapy, chronotherapy and dietary restriction are low-risk strategies and should be tested sooner rather than later.”