Sleep Patterns and Health

Study Notes

Staying up late at night can be bad for one's health, according to new research from the US.
Night owls, people who stay up late, may be more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes.

A night owl is someone who stays up late and is active at night, like the bird owl.
It means they stay up late and are mentally or physically active at night.

An early bird is someone who likes to get up early.
This expression comes from the saying "the early bird catches the worm".
Other ways to describe someone who likes to get up early include "an early riser" or "a morning person".

Chronic describes an illness or situation that is long-lasting and bad.
In a medical sense, chronic means the illness doesn't go away, like chronic pain or chronic backache.
The opposite of chronic is acute, meaning the illness goes away, like acute pain.
Chronic can also be used to describe non-medical situations that are long-lasting and bad, like chronic unemployment or chronic shortage of doctors.
In slang, chronic can also mean bad, like "that new detective drama on TV was chronic, the acting was terrible".

If someone is prone to something, it means they are likely to be affected by something bad.
For example, smokers are prone to lung disease or professional footballers are prone to leg injuries.
Prone to can also be used to describe certain negative types of behavior that people have in their personality, like being prone to lying or exaggeration.
Accident prone is a set expression, meaning someone tends to have a lot of accidents.

Staying up late at night can negatively impact health, increasing the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Night owls, who stay up late and are active at night, are more likely to develop these health problems.

A night owl is someone who stays up late and is mentally or physically active at night, similar to the nocturnal bird.
This term is used to describe people who prefer to stay up late and be active during the night.

An early bird is someone who likes to get up early in the morning.
This phrase originates from the saying "the early bird catches the worm".
Alternative terms to describe someone who likes to get up early include "an early riser" or "a morning person".

Chronic describes a long-lasting and severe illness or situation.
In medicine, chronic refers to an illness that persists over time and doesn't go away, such as chronic pain or chronic backache.
The opposite of chronic is acute, which means the illness is short-term and goes away, such as acute pain.
Chronic can also be used to describe non-medical situations that are long-lasting and bad, such as chronic unemployment or chronic shortage of doctors.
In informal contexts, chronic can also mean extremely bad, such as "that new detective drama on TV was chronic, the acting was terrible".

If someone is prone to something, it means they are likely to be affected by it, especially something negative.
For example, smokers are prone to lung disease, and professional footballers are prone to leg injuries.
Prone to can also be used to describe certain negative personality traits, such as being prone to lying or exaggeration.
The phrase "accident prone" is used to describe someone who tends to have a lot of accidents.