Staying up late to binge watch shows on Netflix. Trying to squeeze in a little quiet time to finish a work project. Having so many thoughts race through your mind that you can’t even pause to count sheep. There are a plethora of reasons why so many of us are sleep deprived and wake up in the morning feeling groggy, cranky and frustrated. Did you know that not getting enough sleep can also compromise your heart wellness?
It doesn’t matter how old you are, how much you weigh or what your exercise pattern looks like - those who are sleep deprived are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. One way that doctors have monitored the connection of a good night’s sleep to a healthy heart is through observing patients who have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when patients are sleeping and they have one or more pauses in breathing that can last from seconds to minutes. This can happen 30 times in an hour and results in the patient feeling unrested and tired in the morning. The problem with these pauses in breathing is that over time, the patient can develop higher blood pressure which can lead to serious cardiovascular problems. One study revealed that men with severe sleep apnea had a 58% greater chance of being diagnosed with congestive heart failure than men who could sleep soundly through the night. Unfortunately, any poor sleep habits can put you at risk.
In a different study conducted by Norwegian researchers, 52,610 men and women answered questions concerning their sleep patterns. After being monitored for 11 years, the results were startling: those who couldn’t fall asleep easily had a 45% greater chance of experiencing a heart attack. Those who had problems staying asleep had a 30% increased risk, and those who woke up tired were at a 27% increased risk.
Since sleep is such a crucial part of heart health, here are some ways to ensure that you get a good night’s rest:
