Effects of Sleep and Cardiovascular Health

    Effects of Sleep and Cardiovascular Health

    Disease can be manifested as a result of sleep, or the lack thereof, in a multitude of ways. About 35.2% of American adults sleep less than seven hours per night (Sleep Foundation, 2023). The implications in the lack of sleep are countless, but have detrimental effects on bodily systems such as the cardiovascular system. The studies are increasingly providing further evidence for the implications that a lack of sleep causes on the body. In fact, sleep has been a recent addition to the American Heart Association's heart health checklist in June of 2022 (American Heart Association, 2022). 

    As Dr. Phyllis Zee mentioned in her lecture and in her and her colleagues' paper "Circadian Disruption and Human Health" (2021), cardiovascular function is timed in accordance with the circadian system, therefore, a disruption would have significant implications on cardiovascular health (Fishbein et al., 2021). For example, there has been links found with circadian misalignment and arrhythmias, hypertension and inflammation that can cause a more severe stroke, and increased resting heart rates (Fishbein et. al., 2021). 

    Additionally, NBC has recently reported that improved sleep has resulted in lower risks for a heart attack. Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is diagnosed when there is frequent and prolonged difficulties in falling asleep, staying asleep, or are deprived from good quality of sleep frequently. It has been reported that people with insomnia are 69% more susceptible to having a heart attack (NBC, 2023). Furthermore, people who sleep five hours or less are 59% more likely to have a heart attack than those who get the recommended eight hours of sleep (NBC, 2023). NBC also mentions an additional study that suggests that healthy sleeping habits can not only improve heart health, but also life expectancy: additional 4.7 years for men, and 2.4 years for women (NBC, 2023). It was also found that 8% of deaths could have been prevented by better sleeping habits, irrespective of the cause (NBC, 2023). 

    As irregularities with sleep and thus disruptions in circadian rhythms, such as insomnia, become more prevalent, it is important that better sleeping habits are implemented. Cardiovascular-related issues, such as heart disease, remain to be the top cause of death in the United States. However, better sleep quality can improve many components that are related to cardiovascular diseases. Sleep quality can be improved by simple adjustments such as stress-relief and sleeping in a darker setting (i.e. turning off lights, covering any outside light, eliminating phone use prior to sleeping, etc.). 

References: 

American Heart Association adds sleep to Cardiovascular Health Checklist. American Heart Association. (2022, June 29). Retrieved from https://newsroom.heart.org/news/american-heart-association-adds-sleep-to-cardiovascular-health-checklist  

Carroll, L. (2023, February 24). Beating insomnia for a healthier heart: How improving sleep quality can lower risk. NBCNews.com. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/beating-insomnia-lower-risk-heart-attack-rcna72016 

Fishbein, A. B., Knutson, K. L., & Zee, P. C. (2021). Circadian disruption and human health. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 131(19). https://doi.org/10.1172/jci148286 

Suni, E. (2023, February 13). Sleep statistics - facts and data about sleep 2023. Sleep Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/sleep-facts-statistics#references-83484