The Link Between Poor Sleep and Heart Attacks
Sleep isn’t just a way to recharge—it’s a vital component of your body’s overall health, especially your heart. Mounting research shows that poor sleep quality and duration significantly increase the risk of heart attacks , even in otherwise healthy individuals. If you’re regularly skimping on rest, your heart could be paying the price. Let’s explore how sleep affects your heart and what you can do to reduce your risk. How Sleep Affects Heart Health Sleep is the time when your body performs crucial maintenance. During deep sleep stages, your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing stabilize , giving your cardiovascular system a break. But if you’re not sleeping enough—or your sleep is frequently disrupted—your body remains in a state of heightened alert, increasing the load on your heart. Chronic sleep deprivation leads to: Elevated blood pressure (a leading cause of heart attacks) Higher levels of inflammation in the blood vessels Increased stress hormone (cort...