Having trouble falling asleep? Hang on before reaching for the melatonin.
A new study says chronic use of the sleep aid may lead to heart failure — but experts say you shouldn’t panic just yet.
While there are mixed reviews of the latest scientific findings, here’s what the popular sleep supplement could reveal about heart health.
According to research from the American Heart Association (AHA), using melatonin consistently for over a year was linked to a higher risk of heart failure and even early death in some adults.
But medical experts say this doesn’t mean the over-the-counter supplement directly causes heart failure.
Instead, constantly reaching for melatonin at bedtime could be a sign of already existing heart issues.
Researchers looked at the health records of over 130,800 adults over five years. Those who regularly took melatonin were nearly twice as likely to develop heart failure and more than three times as likely to be hospitalized, compared to those who didn’t take it.
Those who used it on a nightly basis were also nearly twice as likely to die, according to findings.
The study’s authors also noted there could be several reasons for the link between melatonin and heart risk, like depression and anxiety or other sleep-enhancing aids.
Heart failure, which happens when the body can’t pump enough blood to the heart and other organs, can be caused by lifestyle choices — including a chronic lack of sleep.
This can have many people reaching for melatonin, which is used by over 5 million adults in the U.S. alone. However, like many supplements, it isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, meaning dosage and ingredients can vary.
Some experts even warn that it shouldn’t be taken every night as a treatment for insomnia.
Often marketed as a safe sleep aid, the effects of melatonin supplements on cardiovascular health were relatively unknown — until now.
This new research could help healthcare professionals learn more about the effects and risks of long-term melatonin use on the health of the heart.
