Sleep and Heart Connection
Sleep plays a crucial role in cardiovascular health by regulating blood pressure, heart rate, and inflammation. Poor sleep can lead to hypertension, heart disease, and increased risk of stroke.
Impact on Blood Pressure
During sleep, blood pressure naturally dips. This nightly dip provides the heart with a rest period. Lack of sleep disrupts this pattern, leading to sustained high blood pressure, a key risk factor for heart disease.
Hormonal Balance and Heart
Sleep regulates hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Poor sleep increases stress hormones, raising heart rate and blood pressure. Chronic elevation of these hormones strains the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of heart attacks.
Inflammation and Sleep Deprivation
Lack of sleep triggers inflammatory processes in the body. Elevated inflammation markers like C-reactive protein are linked to atherosclerosis and heart disease. Adequate sleep helps reduce these markers, protecting cardiovascular health.
Sleep Disorders and Heart Health
Conditions like sleep apnea cause repeated interruptions in breathing, leading to oxygen deprivation and increased heart strain. Sleep apnea significantly raises the risk of arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death.Sleep's Heartbeat Alarm
Sleep deprivation can alter heart rhythms so drastically that some hospitals monitor sleep patterns to predict heart attacks!
What disrupts nightly blood pressure dip?
Hypertension
Heart disease
Lack of sleep
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