Erratic Sleep Puts Heart Health At Risk
7/5/2021
Stay on schedule with a full night of sleep for your best physical and mental health
MILTON, Fla., - Sleepless nights can lead to daytime tiredness and lack of clarity, but it can also mean more when it comes to your heart. The American College of Cardiology Foundation had a study published last year that found sleep schedule inconsistencies is a risk factor for heart disease. Veronica Holbrook, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician with Santa Rosa Medical Group, is urging patients to understand the importance of a regular sleep pattern and to seek help if someone is having problems sleeping.
The study found individuals with the most irregular sleep duration or timing had more than twice the risk of developing cardiovascular disease when compared to individuals who had the most regular sleep patterns. Physicians are now more likely to recommend sufficient sleep as a heart health prevention on top of physical activity and a healthy diet.
“Our lives are busy, and sometimes sleep isn’t as high of a priority as it should be,” said Dr. Holbrook. “Sleep is something we all need to live healthier. Our days spent with screens, whether it’s a computer screen or our smart devices, can make it harder for our brain to "shut off" and let us sleep.”
The National Sleep Foundation has identified adults, ages 18 to 64, need 7 to 9 hours of sleep and those 65 or older need 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Children and teens need more hours. This time is needed so the body can perform many vital functions that support the health of your body and brain. Three primary functions are repairing tissue, fighting off infection, and processing memories of experiences from your day.
Higher variability in sleep duration or timing is associated with higher blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids and insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes. Insufficient sleep can affect your body in other ways, too.
"Everyone needs sleep, but we need to take a look at the quality and the quantity of what we’re getting to better our health," said Holbrook. "Occasionally tossing and turning at night is normal, but more often than not, many patients are having trouble falling or staying asleep, even when they want to. Sleepless nights like this can cause even more problems, creating a vicious cycle.”
Stress, sleep apnea and insomnia can cause sleep issues. Your physician can help diagnose whether you could benefit from medication, behavioral therapy or if a thorough sleep study is needed. Santa Rosa Medical Center has a sleep center available to help address issues related to sleep quality. If you are experiencing any symptoms of a sleep disorder or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact the Sleep Center at Santa Rosa Medical Center by calling (850) 626-5295.
If you need help finding a primary care physician, visit SantaRosaMedicalGroup.com to be connected with one of our qualified providers.
SOURCES
- CDC
- Huang T, Mariani S, Redline S. – Sleep Irregularity and Risk of Cardiovascular Events: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Journal of American College of Cardiology, March 10, 2020
- The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night At A Time, by Arianna Huffington, 2016.
- The organizational cost of insufficient sleep, by Nick van Dam and Els van der Helm, McKinsey Quarterly, February 2016.
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