A healthy heart does not only reflect how active and energetic you are, it also shows that you take a good amount of rest or sleep every day.  The vitality of sleep for the heart can be understood by the results of recent studies conducted on the patients with sleep apnea – a sleep disorder that constantly interrupts your sleep patterns.  The study shows that most patients had to compromise their heart health due to sleep deprivation. Moreover, sleep experts have shown that poor levels of sleep or sleep deprivation can lead to the development of certain chemicals – which in turn lead to lower heart rate and blood pressure. A weak heart steer you right in the path of debilitating cardiovascular disorders. A point often overlooked, 58% of people who suffer from congestive heart failure have also been diagnosed to having severe sleep disorders.

Why is Sleep Important?

Your body grows when you sleep, your mind relaxes and stores memory, your muscles strengthen, your vital organs harmonize – these are all just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to sleeping on time and waking up on time. Apart from that, mentioned below are a few more vital reasons why you should sleep more:

  • Release hormones
  • Relax  muscles
  • Slow breathing
  • Increase blood circulation
  • Repair skin cells
  • Reinforce tissue growth
  • Drop blood pressure

What are the Effects of Sleep on Your Heart?

Going against nature is bound to be destructive. Human beings need timely sleep to function optimally. Moreover, if you sleep on time – you won’t have to worry about depending on coffee or a variety of other elements to stay awake or active throughout the day. However, sleep deprivation, poor sleeping patterns and insomnia can lead to several heart complications.

  1. Insomnia and Cardiovascular Disease
  2. Researchers at Norwegian University have proven that insomnia increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.  Insomnia refers to the Delayed sleep Phase (DSP) that causes sleeplessness along with a wide array of heart problems.
    Of all the health disorders, cardiovascular disease is on top of the list among all other health problems caused by insomnia. Plus, the disruptive sleep disorder exacerbates your blood circulatory system contributing to high blood pressure, an increased heart rate, which can also lead to stroke.

    Lack of Sleep and Coronary Artery Calcification

    It is a state when calcium deposits harden around your aortic valve and block the narrow opening of the valve.  This reduces blood flow leading to Aortic valve stenosis.  Researchers have shown people who have a comparatively shorter time span of sleep are at greater risk of developing CAC.

  3. Lack of Sleep Increases Heart Palpitations
  4. If you often experience disruptive sensations when your heart beats, it may be the sign of increased heart palpitations. The state includes increased heart palpitations, skipped palpitations, pounding or fluttering, etc. Moreover, Lack of sleep causes anxiety and stress that further deteriorates your heart’s palpitations weakening the muscle.

Conclusion

All in all, there is no doubt you have to force yourself to correct your sleep patterns to avoid severe health consequences in the long-run, especially as you grow older and older.