Human physiological activity and condition during illness are under the control of the circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms handle a wide diversity of physiological and metabolic functions, and the interruption of these rhythms has been linked to obesity, sleep disorders, metabolic and psychological disorders, and cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and vascular death. Disruption of circadian rhythms increases the risk of developing myocardial infarction, indicating that circadian genes might play an essential role in determining disease susceptibility. It is well known that many cardiovascular processes show daily variations depending on the circadian rhythm (blood pressure, heart rate), and the gene expression of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock influences myocardial contractile function, metabolism, and other gene expressions. We present a review of the latest knowledge on the impact of circadian rhythm and circadian rhythm genes on myocardial infarction. Today, in a time of personalized medicine, it is essential to know each person’s circadian rhythm for its treatment and possible inclusion in the diagnostic procedures.
Part of the book: Visions of Cardiomyocyte