The connection between heart health and better quality sleep is well-established, with numerous studies highlighting how sleep quality directly influences cardiovascular health.
With World Heart Day on the 29th of September, Dr Debroah Lee, has partnered with Get Laid Beds to highlight FIVE links between sleep and your heart’s health…
- Blood Pressure Regulation
“During sleep, the body naturally lowers blood pressure allowing the heart to rest and recover from the prior day’s activities.
“Poor or too little sleep can disrupt this process, leading to consistently higher blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.”
- Heart Rate Variability
“Heart rate variability is the variation in time between each heartbeat. A higher variability is generally associated with a better cardiovascular fitness and a sign of a body being more resilient to stress.
“Ensuring you have a sleep-friendly environment in order to have a good quality sleep therefore promotes a healthy heart rate variability and reduces potential stress on your body, and your heart.”
- Reduced Inflammation
“Another benefit of a decent sleep is that it aids in regulating the body’s inflammatory response.”
“Sleep disorders such as insomnia, or sleep apnea can lead to elevated levels of inflammation, contributing to the development of atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the arteries, or other heart related conditions.
“Make sure to speak to someone as soon as you notice your poor sleep is a pattern to avoid poor heart health.”
- Regulation of Blood Sugar Levels
“Poor sleep can be linked to insulin resistance, which is where the body cannot use insulin effectively, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
“Potentially over time, this can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which is closely linked to heart disease.
“Making sure your sleep quality is maintained such as by avoiding large meals or drinking alcohol before bed helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels.”
- Mood and Stress Reduction
“Lack of sleep can elevate stress hormones like cortisol, which are responsible for increasing the heart’s workload by raising blood pressure and heart rate. Over time this can be dangerous as chronic stress is a main cause for long-term cardiovascular issues.
“Additionally, a good sleep quality contributes to a better mental health, reducing anxiety and depression, which are also both linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
“For example, by instilling a bedtime relaxation routine to unwind, can improve mood and reduce your overall stress to ensure a good sleep. These can be simple steps but can still help protect your heart from the damaging effects of chronic psychological stress.”
For more information regarding your heart health please speak to your local healthcare provider or look to the NHS website.
For more on what affects the quality of sleep, check Get Laid Bed’s blog: https://www.getlaidbeds.co.uk/blog/what-affects-the-quality-of-sleep
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