Circadian rhythm and myocardial infarction

Abstract

The circadian clock controls many physiological processes, and its abnormalities can lead to many pathophysiological disorders. The central circadian clock is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus and is regulated by numerous circadian clock genes. Variations in these genes have been linked to obesity, sleep disorders, metabolic and psychological disorders, and cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and vascular death. Many cardiovascular processes show daily variations depending on the circadian rhythm (blood pressure, heart rate), and the circadian pattern is characteristic for cardiovascular diseases. Chronotype and daytime sleepiness, circadian rhythm elements, are significant risk factors in the assessment of the cardiovascular disease occurrence, especially myocardial infarction. This paper presents a review of the latest knowledge of the impact of circadian rhythm, circadian rhythm genes, and circadian rhythm elements (chronotype and daytime sleepiness) on myocardial infarction. Nowadays, in the time of personalized medicine, it is essential to know the circadian rhythm of an individual for its treatment and possible involvement in the diagnostic procedures.