Every year, March is celebrated as National Sleep Awareness Month, which sheds light on the connection between sleep and our health and allows us to look into our sleep habits and find ways to improve the quality of sleep we get.
This year’s National Sleep Awareness Month is focused on the importance of sleep for our cardiac health. Though many people don’t consider it vital to maintaining heart health, studies reveal that getting good sleep is just as important as eating right and exercising regularly for a healthy heart.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults between 18 and 65 should get at least 7 hours of quality sleep every night to keep cardiovascular problems away. It is also important for medical practitioners to monitor patients’ heart health regularly using a mobile ECG unit.
How does sleep impact heart health?
Studies show that poor sleep quality or short sleep duration is associated with the increased risk of high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and developing Atherosclerosis, all of which are among the leading causes of heart disease. Not getting enough sleep is also correlated with weight gain, obesity, Type-2 diabetes, and many sleeping disorders. Research also suggests that long-duration sleep (sleeping for more than 9 hours at a time) can increase the risk of stroke, which is often fatal.
The link between sleeping disorders and heart health
Research also finds a connection between sleeping disorders and cardiovascular disease. People with obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, or other common sleeping disorders also are more likely to have heart arrhythmias, heart failure, plaque buildup, and coronary artery disease than the general public.
Evidence also reveals that neurological sleep disorders may increase the risk of developing heart disease; however, more research is required to better understand the link.
Conclusion
This March, let’s educate ourselves and everyone around us to pay attention to their sleeping habits and follow a lifestyle that emphasizes good sleep more than binging shows or the use of mobile devices late at night. Also, keep track of your patients’ heart health using a mobile ECG unit and prevent the onset of heart disease before they snowball.
