Can Sleep Deprivation Cause Heart Disease?

We all know how important heart health is. We’ve heard it time and time again. The heart has a big job to pump blood through the body, empowering the circulatory system to make sure all organs and tissues get the oxygen they need for you to live.

While getting the proper amount of exercise and having a healthy diet are key to keeping your heart healthy, getting enough sleep is another big factor. Sleep allows your brain and body to rest. When you’re in a deep sleep, your heart rate slows, and your blood pressure drops. This helps keep your heart healthy as it recovers from daylight hours and the things in your day that may have caused you or your body stress.

Without enough sleep, you can lose that chance to reduce the strain on the heart. This can also happen to people who wake up on and off throughout the night because they may not be reaching a deep stage of sleep. This can be considered a sleep disorder. Studies show that sleep disorders like sleep apnea have also been linked to several heart-related issues.

Sleep apnea is when your breathing stops and restarts several times while you sleep, preventing your body from getting enough oxygen. Without treatment, this type of sleep deprivation can increase the risk of heart disease. Treatments may include a CPAP machine or a new technology in which a small device is implanted in the upper chest during a small procedure. Once installed, this cutting-edge Inspire technology sends a signal to the nerve that controls your tongue and upper airway to tighten them while you sleep. The end result is a mask-free treatment that you can control from the palm of your hand through a remote and an app to help you sleep better and more comfortably.

While the simple act of sleeping can protect your heart, it can also allow you a chance to refresh and relax before getting ready for your next day. Most healthy adults should be getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night and should contact their doctor if they are having trouble. For the heart’s sake, take some time to rest so you can remain focused, energized, and healthy.