Night owls have 16% higher risk of heart disease than early birds, study findsHeart disease is the leading cause of death in America, and being a night owl may be harming your cardiovascular health more than you thinkView 2 Images Being a night owl may be harming your cardiovascular health more than you thinkNight owls might need to change their ways to reduce their risk of developing heart disease. ‌The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that night owls had an associated 16% higher risk of heart attack and stroke. What is the link between being a night owl and heart disease risk? View 2 Images Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the nation‌What lifestyle changes can reduce heart disease risk aside from sleep? Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the nation, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.