How Does Sleep Affect Your Heart?
Getting enough sleep is crucial to staying healthy. As sleep is your body’s way of repairing itself, you want to make sure that you are getting the rest that you need. When you do not get enough sleep, every area of your health is affected. This includes your heart. Keep reading to find out more about how sleep affects your heart.
The Amount of Sleep You Get
The average adult needs about seven hours of sleep per night. However, many adults do not get the amount of sleep they need to re-energize. When an individual does not get enough sleep, or does not get quality sleep, health problems can start to develop or existing health problems will increase.
Sleep Disorders That Can Affect Your Heart
Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects your breathing as you sleep. Your air passages will become blocked, which will cause you to stop breathing momentarily. This can cause you to wake up suddenly, disturbing your sleep. Sleep apnea can be caused by health issues such as obesity and heart failure. Because of the lack of oxygen getting to the brain, this disorder can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure, heart attacks, or strokes. Insomnia is another sleep disorder that can greatly affect your health. Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. With this comes health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease. An individual can also experience high-stress levels and depression.
What You Can Do to Get Better Sleep
One aspect of good health is getting quality sleep. In order to do so, there are some things that you can do to promote a good night’s sleep. Schedule your bedtime, and have a routine to wind down to prepare for sleep. This could include reading, sipping a cup of herbal tea, or taking a hot bath. Make sure that your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet without any blue light to disturb you. Partake in physical activity and natural sunlight during the day to help you feel more tired at night. Be sure to limit any caffeine several hours before bed, and do not eat heavy meals too close to bedtime.
Without a proper night’s sleep, your health can be greatly affected, including your heart health. For more information about how a good night’s sleep can affect your heart, read our blog.
