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Cardiovascular function such as blood pressure and heart rate exhibits circadian oscillation. The circadian rhythmicity had been supposed to be regulated by an internal biological. The identification and characterization of mammalian clock genes revealed that the biological clock is composed of feedback loops of transcription factors. Previous studies reported that night shift workers had high risk of ischemic heart disease, suggesting a close association between cardiovascular diseases and circadian rhythm. In addition, recent studies obtained from the genetically engineered mice with disrupted circadian rhythm have revealed that the circadian clock is closely related to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. Understanding the biological relevance of the internal clock in cardiovascular diseases will provide a novel chronotherapeutic approaches to the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular function exhibits circadian oscillation. Furthermore, the onset time and severity of cardiovascular diseases exhibit diurnal variation. The internal circadian clock whose center exists in the suprachiasmatic nucleus regulates this circadian variation. Many studies have reported that night shift workers have high risk of ischemic heart disease, suggesting a close association between cardiovascular diseases and circadian rhythm. In addition, recent studies obtained from genetically engineered mice with disrupted circadian rhythm have revealed that the circadian clock is closely related to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Understanding the importance of circadian rhythm in the cardiovascular diseases will provide a novel chronotherapeutic approaches to the prevention and treatment.

Sleep disturbance is a common problem in general adult population. Recent evidence suggests the link between the occurrence of cardiovascular events and several sleep disturbances including sleep apnea syndrome, insomnia and periodic limb movements during sleep. Sleep duration may affect the cardiovascular outcome. Shift work also may increase the risk of ischemic heart disease. Normalization of sleep rhythm has a potential to be a therapeutic target of ischemic heart diseases, although further study is required to evaluate the preventive effect on cardiovascular events. Here we describe the current understandings regarding the roles of sleep disorders during the pathogenesis of cardiovascular events.