Getting enough sleep is not only essential for your energy levels but also heart health. An irregular sleep schedule takes a toll on the heart. It is essential to get a sleep of 6-8 hours to keep the heart strong and healthy. The number of people with heart problems is increasing at a rapid rate. The common risk factors for heart disease are smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise. But there is also an association between poor sleep and heart problems. Poor sleep habits can negatively impact blood pressure and increase the chances of heart failure and heart attacks.
Dr. Bipeenchandra Bhamre, a Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai said, “Those who are sleep-deprived tend to have an elevated heart rate and stress levels. Sleep is the process to rejuvenate ourselves. Not sleeping properly will raise CRP or C-reactive protein, which is released owing to stress and inflammation. Lack of sleep will mean that the blood pressure will be elevated for a longer time and invite heart problems or stroke. Poor sleep triggers chronic inflammation causes plaque formation and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). These people can in long term, suffer coronary heart disease (CHD).”
Dr Bhamre added, “Adhere to a good sleep routine. Make sure you sleep and wake up at the same time on a daily basis. normally you should sleep early before 11 pm. Don’t eat or drink coffee within a few hours of bedtime. Try to avoid alcohol and foods high in fat or sugar before sleeping. there should be a gap of 2 hours between food and sleep. Try to keep the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet to sleep peacefully. One needs to sleep for at least 8 hours every day.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Narayan Gadkar, Cardiologist, Zen Multispeciality Hospital added, “Irregular sleep patterns can impact the heart. Lack of sleep can lead to unhealthy weight gain which can later lead to heart problems. Insufficient sleep contributes to problems with blood pressure and a higher risk of heart disease, heart failure, heart attacks, diabetes, and stroke. Getting good sleep will prevent damage to the cardiovascular system. Hypertension tends to strain the arteries, and they will be unable to supply blood to the heart. This causes heart disease.”
For those unversed, World Sleep Day is celebrated since the year 2008 to emphasise the importance of sleep and resting.
This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of sleep and make people realise that sleep is not a luxury but a need.
The theme for World Sleep day 2022 is 'Quality Sleep, Sound Mind, Happy World'. This theme emphasises the importance of at least 7-8 hours of sleep so that their bodies can recover and the mind can unwind from the stress of a busy day. It also helps brain function more efficiently.