Sleep and Your Heart
Most Americans take sleep for granted. For the unfortunate millions that suffer from sleep-related disorders, they may not realize that their inability to get a restful night's sleep may result in more than a groggy day - it can actually be affecting your heart health.
Sleep accounts for a third of our lives, with the average person needing approximately eight hours of sleep per night. For most, the natural 24-hour cycle of the body or internal clock, known as circadian rhythms, finds them active during the day, while asleep at night. Specific sleep disorders, however, limit the body's natural ability to get the rest it needs. In fact, one sleeping disorder, sleep apnea, has been linked to numerous heart conditions. Of sleep apnea sufferers, those with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), have most often been identified as those with the greatest risk for heart health issues.
Heart Risks from Obstructive Sleep Apnea
During sleep apnea, the stress on the body can lead to increased or irregular heart rate and other various heart conditions, including:
- Hypertension. Nearly half of all patients suffering from hypertension, or high blood pressure, may be sufferers of sleep apnea. During sleep, blood pressure naturally deceases. For those suffering from sleep apnea, however, blood pressure may increase, causing additional stress on the heart. Helping to resolve sleep apnea symptoms often leads to the improvement of hypertension in many patients.
- Stroke. Sleep apnea patients may only receive half the blood flow to the brain during sleep than that of a person without sleep apnea, thus increasing their probability of stroke by 50 percent. In addition, the lack of restful sleep caused by sleep apnea may also result in a lessened ability to recover from a stroke.
- Congestive heart failure (CHF). Nightly stress on the heart due to sleep apnea may be linked to congestive heart failure, or the inability of the heart to circulate blood effectively. Warning symptoms of congestive heart failure include weakness, shortness of breath, edema (or fluid retention), an enlarged and tender liver and swollen neck veins.
Consult with a medical professional or sleep specialist to determine which treatment option is best for you.