HEART HEALTH
Your HEART Could Use a
Good Night's Sleep
Many people experience
disruptions to their nightly z’s,
impacting productivity, mood
and overall well-being. But the
ramifications of sleep deprivation
can extend far beyond a day filled
with extra cups of coffee.
Research shows that an ongoing sleep deficit can ultimately endanger
your heart health. Tens of millions of Americans experience a chronic
lack of sleep. For some, cutting the recommended 8 hours of sleep is
due to work or social obligations, but for many others, insomnia or other sleep
disorders might be the culprit.
HAZARDS OF INSUFFICIENT SLEEP
According to a recent statement from
the American Heart Association, an
irregular sleep pattern (one that varies
from the 7 to 9-hour norm) is linked
to many different cardiovascular
risks, including obesity, high blood
pressure, diabetes, and coronary
artery disease. Short sleep, defined as
less than 6 hours per night, appears
to be especially hazardous to your
heart health, says Dr. Susan Redline,
the Peter C. Farrell Professor of Sleep
Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
“Sleep deprived people have higher
blood levels of stress hormones and
substances that indicate inflammation,
a key player in cardiovascular disease,”
notes Dr. Redline. “Even a single night
of insufficient sleep can perturb your
system.”
On the opposite side of the spectrum,
some studies have also indicated
that there might be a link between
excessively long sleep periods and
heart health as well. Research has
indicated that people who regularly
slept for nine hours or more per
night had more calcium buildup in
their heart artery walls and stiffer leg
arteries than those who normally slept
7-9 hours.
Another mechanism for linking heart
disease and short sleep involves
LINKS: www.heart.org (American Heart Association)
22 COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE DIGEST • JAN–MAR 2019 | WWW.CHDIGEST.COM
/www.heart.org
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