The heart and brain communicate through hormones and electrical signals, and substances that alter sleep architecture can ripple through those systems. Older adults and people with existing cardiovascular risk factors could be more sensitive to such ripple effects. Clinicians and patients who care about long-term health need clear information to make choices that support both better sleep and safer hearts.
This research raises questions about who should use melatonin, for how long, and what monitoring might reduce harm. It also points toward broader conversations about treating sleep problems with behavioral tools, lifestyle changes, and careful medical guidance. Follow the link to read the study and consider how these findings might change conversations about sleep, aging, and inclusive access to safer care.
Long-term melatonin use for sleep problems may come with unexpected heart dangers. Researchers found that chronic users were almost twice as likely to die and 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure. Though melatonin is widely regarded as harmless, experts now urge caution with extended use.