HOW DOES SLEEP AFFECT HEART HEALTH?

Adults typically require at least 7 hours of sleep per night. The majority of American adults—more than 1 in 3—state that they don't receive the necessary amount of sleep. While this could be alright for a day or two, chronic sleep deprivation can cause serious health issues and exacerbate some already existing conditions.

Adults who sleep for fewer than 7 hours a night are more likely to report having health issues, such as asthma attacks, heart attacks, and depression. The risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke is increased by certain of these medical conditions. These health issues consist of:

Your blood pressure lowers when you are sleeping normally. Your blood pressure will be higher for a longer time if you have sleep issues. One of the major dangers of heart disease and stroke is high blood pressure. One in three individuals in America, or 75 million people, have excessive blood pressure.

Diabetes is a condition that results in a buildup of blood sugar, which can harm your blood vessels. According to several research, having adequate restful sleep may enhance people's ability to control their blood sugar.

Unhealthy weight gain might be a result of sleep deprivation. Children and teenagers need more sleep than adults do, therefore this is particularly true for them. Lack of sleep may have an impact on the area of the brain that manages hunger.

Heart health can be harmed by sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia. Sleep apnea interferes with breathing while you sleep, raising your risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. It is frequently associated with obesity and heart failure. Sleep disturbances, or insomnia, are associated with heart disease and can result in unhealthy behaviors like stress, inactivity, and poor food decisions, further endangering heart health.

For better sleep, maintain a regular schedule, get morning light, stay active, limit evening screen time, avoid late eating or drinking, create a calm bedroom, and consult your healthcare team if needed.