Despite the fact that our heart does so much for us, there is very little awareness among the general public for maintaining health. You might take a rest but your heart doesn’t. Speaking of rest, science has proven that your health is closely related to your sleep. So next time you think of a good night’s sleep, do not think of it as a luxury. Instead, think of it as a necessity because that’s what it is.
Being a constantly sleep-deprived person, when I saw on the internet that the sound of sleep is linked to heart health, I was both amazed and worried. To fact-check it, I contacted one of my old friends who is now a certified Cardiologist in Lahore, and asked her to tell me the science behind this research. This is what she told me:
Sleep Deprivation And Heart Health
Research shows that the lack of sleep contributes to conditions like atherosclerosis which is a condition where the arteries of the patient harden or clogs due to excessive cholesterol build-up. Research also shows that 4,00,000 people found that sleep less than a normal amount per night is related to heart failure and a 20% higher chance of heart attack. To ensure a healthy lifestyle and a healthy heart, visit Rasheed Hospital Lahore.
Sleep Disorders And Heart Health
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a breathing disorder that interrupts patients during their sleep because the patients have lapses in breathing during sleep. Research shows that OSA is closely related to the high risks of heart diseases, obesity, diabetes, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Excessive movement and restlessness during sleep have also proven to aid abnormal activation of the cardiovascular system. Moreover, Circadian rhythm sleep disorders that can mess up the person’s sleep cycle have also proven harmful for heart health, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
Excessive Sleep And Heart Health
Despite having considerable amounts of data showing the link between sleep deprivation and poor heart health, there is very limited data available to prove the harmful effects of excessive sleep on cardiovascular health. Although the research says that sleeping more than nine hours can be harmful to your health but since the data supporting this argument is not enough, doctors almost always prescribe patients to sleep well.
Conclusion
With that being said, in order to maintain a good night’s sleep, you need to actively make an effort to improve your sleep hygiene. Some steps that might help are keeping to a routine for daily sleep, going to bed every night at the same hour, and waking up every morning, even on the weekends, at the same time.
Getting adequate natural light, particularly earlier in the day. Getting sufficient daytime physical exercise but not before your bedtime. Using your laptop or mobile with a blue light filter. Avoiding drinking or eating, particularly liquor and foods that are high in fat or sugar, within a few hours before bed. And lastly, keeping your bedroom calm, silent, and quiet.