Integrating Circadian Rhythm Science and Traditional Herbal Medicine for Stroke and Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention in Young Adults

AbstractBackground:The incidence of stroke and sudden cardiac death (SCD) among young adults has been rising alarmingly in recent years, particularly in rapidly modernizing societies such as Vietnam. Irregular sleep patterns, late-night screen exposure, and lifestyle stressors have disrupted circadian rhythms, contributing to cardiovascular vulnerability. While conventional prevention focuses on risk factors like hypertension and cholesterol, the role of biological time alignment and traditional herbal medicine (THM) in cardiovascular prevention remains underexplored.Purpose:This study aims to develop and test an integrative model combining circadian rhythm science and herbal chronotherapy to enhance cardiovascular resilience and reduce the risk of stroke and SCD among young adults.Methods:Data were collected from 211 valid respondents, primarily under the age of 35, through a structured questionnaire based on five constructs: Circadian Rhythm Alignment (CRA), Herbal Chronotherapy (HCT), Physiological Mechanisms (PM), Cardiovascular Resilience (CVR), and Preventive Outcomes (PO). The model was tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS 4.1.Results:Findings reveal that both CRA (β = 0.243, p < 0.001) and HCT (β = 0.315, p < 0.001) significantly enhance CVR, while PM serves as a strong mediator (β = 0.334, p < 0.001). CVR strongly predicts preventive outcomes (β = 0.502, p < 0.001), explaining 54% of the variance. The model demonstrates high reliability and explanatory power (R² for CVR = 0.67). Conclusion:Integrating circadian rhythm alignment with time-specific herbal therapy offers a promising, low-cost preventive approach to improving cardiovascular health in young adults. The study introduces a novel chronobiology–herbal medicine framework, bridging modern science with traditional wisdom and contributing to sustainable strategies for stroke and SCD prevention in Vietnam and similar contexts.Keywords: Circadian rhythm, herbal chronotherapy, cardiovascular resilience, stroke prevention, young adults, Vietnam