New research suggests that adults with an inconsistent sleep schedule have an elevated risk for a high coronary artery calcium score, plaque build-up in the carotid artery, and abnormal results on assessments of blood vessel stiffness. Sleep expert Dr. Raj Dasgupta adds, “If you have any risk factors for [heart disease] such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, family history of heart disease, or are overweight, having a regular sleep schedule should be a priority along with addressing other modifiable risk factors to reduce your chance of developing atherosclerosis, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.” Journal of the American Heart Association, February 2023