Can Melatonin Increase Your Risk of Heart Failure?

Healthy sleep habits

If you’ve ever struggled to fall asleep, there’s a good chance someone has recommended melatonin. It’s easy to find, doesn’t require a prescription, and it’s often marketed as a safe, natural fix for sleepless nights. But new research suggests there’s more to the story, especially if you’ve been taking it for a while.

A new study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 has raised eyebrows among researchers and doctors. The findings suggest that long-term use of melatonin supplements, more than a year, may be linked to a higher risk of heart failure. While the study doesn’t prove that melatonin directly causes heart problems, it does raise important questions about whether “natural” really means risk-free.

Why Melatonin Became Everyone’s Favorite Sleep Aid
Melatonin is a hormone your brain naturally produces to help regulate your body’s sleep-wake cycle. Levels rise in the evening to help you wind down and drop again in the morning to help you wake up. Synthetic versions of melatonin mimic this process, which is why the supplement has become so popular among people dealing with insomnia, jet lag, or shift work.

It’s estimated that about one in three adults in the United States don’t get enough sleep, and nearly 10% live with chronic insomnia. That statistic alone explains why melatonin bottles have taken over pharmacy shelves — people are tired, literally. And while short-term use of melatonin can help with resetting your sleep rhythm, what happens when you take it every night for months or years has been less clear.

The Study’s Findings
To understand melatonin’s long-term impact, researchers analyzed medical data from over 130,000 adults in a global health database. Participants were divided into two groups: those who took melatonin for at least a year and those who didn’t use it at all.

The results were surprising. Over a five-year period:

• People who took melatonin long-term had a 90% higher chance of developing heart failure.
• They were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for heart-related issues.
• They were nearly twice as likely to die from any cause compared to non-users.

That’s not a small difference. But researchers were quick to clarify — the study shows an association, not a cause. It’s possible that people who rely on melatonin already have other health problems, like chronic insomnia, which itself increases cardiovascular risks. Still, the numbers were significant enough to spark concern and call for more research.

Why This Finding Matters
Insomnia isn’t just an inconvenience it’s a health issue. Poor sleep is tied to high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and even cognitive decline. When you don’t sleep enough, your body’s stress hormones rise, inflammation increases, and your heart has to work harder.

So what does melatonin have to do with that? People generally think of it as a safer choice than sleeping drugs that are prescribed. Melatonin, like other supplements, isn’t very tightly regulated in the U.S., thus the quality and dose might vary from brand to brand. Some formulations have more melatonin than what is on the label. This might change the way your body works over time.

You might want to take a break from melatonin if you’ve been taking it every night for months. If you have trouble sleeping for a long time, it might be an indication of something deeper, such stress, worry, hormonal changes, or even an illness that needs primary care. A virtual health consultation or telemedicine session can help you figure out what’s truly keeping you from sleeping and whether supplements are the best way to go.

The cardiovascular health

Why Natural Sleep Still Wins
No matter how tempting an easy fix might sound, quality sleep starts with daily habits, not pills or powders. The American Heart Association lists healthy sleep as one of its core pillars for overall heart wellness, and for good reason — it supports everything from your immune system to your metabolism.

Here are some ways to improve your sleep naturally:

• Stick to a routine. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol. Both can interfere with sleep quality.
• Dim the screens. The blue light from your phone or laptop tricks your brain into staying awake.
• Get morning sunlight. It helps reset your circadian rhythm naturally.
• Keep your room dark and cool. A calm environment signals your body that it’s time to rest.

If you still struggle with falling or staying asleep, consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). It’s one of the most effective long-term treatments and focuses on changing thoughts and habits that disrupt rest, without medication.

Rethinking Sleep Supplements
Don’t toss away your melatonin bottle; instead, utilize it properly. It’s not designed to be a part of your evening routine permanently; it’s just meant to aid with short-term sleep problems. Talk to a doctor if you need it for more than a few weeks. You could need a more personalized approach that takes into account everything from your sleep habits to your stress levels and long-term care.

AI in healthcare and virtual primary care sessions make it easier than ever to deal with problems early on as contemporary healthcare strives toward prevention. This is exactly where this talk should be: before a tiny habit turns into a huge health problem.

There shouldn’t be a hidden cost to getting good sleep. You should know what your body actually needs, and sometimes that means shutting off the light and letting your mind rest on its own.