Health

How Important Sleep Is for Your Heart

One-third of Americans say they do not get the recommended amount of sleep. The American Heart Association (AHA) updated its checklist for cardiovascular health to include sleep. It is another factor in preventive cardiology to consider along with nutrition, exercise, nicotine use, body mass index, triglycerides, blood pressure, and glucose levels. Speak to anaheim ekg today to understand how to improve your heart health!

Heart Disease and Inadequate Sleep

Insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome are just a few of the sleep disorders that can prevent you from getting a good night’s rest. If you are experiencing any of these issues, seeing a doctor or cardiologist is important. 

Changes in your energy level, hormone levels, and metabolic rate are all signs of poor sleep quality. Hormones released in response to stress contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance, and diabetes. When sleep apnea is combined with a metabolic disorder, such as diabetes, the risk for cardiovascular disease is increased by a factor of three.

It is also important to pay attention to the time of day you go to sleep and wake up, as doing so can alter your circadian cycle and throw off your hormone balance. Sleeping in causes weight gain, obesity, and late-night binge eating. Each of these factors raises the chance of developing heart disease.

Healthy Rest and a Strong Heart

Both poor sleep and cardiovascular disease are linked. Sleep deprivation is detrimental to heart health, but sleep impairment is also a common symptom of heart disease. Each contributing factor strengthens and perpetuates the vicious cycle. The good news is that poor heart health and a lack of adequate sleep negatively affect daily life.

Getting enough sleep has a multiplicative effect on your metabolism, hormone balance, and energy levels. Enhanced vitality allows for a more dynamic way of life. Your metabolism, eating habits, mental clarity, and risk of developing insulin resistance and diabetes can all benefit from a hormonal balance. The heart benefits from all of these things.

How to Get Better Rest?

For adults, the American Heart Association advises between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night for the best cardiovascular health. Kids under the age of five need between 10 and 16 hours of sleep every day (including naps), whereas kids 6 to 12 need between 9 and 12 hours. The average adolescent should get between eight and ten hours of sleep per night.

Better sleep can be attained by the application of excellent sleep hygiene, which includes:

  • Maintain a regular sleep-wake schedule.
  • Do not let any light in here!
  • It is time to turn off the TV and put the gadgets away.
  • Do not eat or drink anything late at night, especially coffee and alcohol.
  • Use a CPAP machine, a night guard, or whatever else your doctor prescribes.