A good night’s sleep has a range of benefits for your heart

Tuesday, 03 April 2018

If you had difficulty getting out of bed this morning after the long weekend you are not alone.

Getting back to the 9 to 5 routine after four days of long lie-ins is tough for everyone, but now that you have thrown yourself back into your working week it is important to try, if you can, to include some time out to relax and rest during the day.

While long-lie ins are not possible during the busy working week, the importance of a regular sleep pattern for your health cannot be overestimated.

Shakespeare told us “Sleep knits up the ravelled sleeve of care,” meaning that a good night’s sleep helps make sense of our day and can help to soothe the mind.

But did you know that sleep also has a range of benefits for your heart?

According to the World Health Organisation, poor sleep should be considered a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease along with smoking, lack of exercise and poor diet.

Several studies have shown a link between getting a good night’s sleep and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

For example, research carried out in 2017 revealed that insomnia was associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

In 2016 the American Heart Association released a scientific statement on the association between the duration and quality of sleep and cardiovascular disease.

The statement found that sleep issues, especially not sleeping enough, obstructive sleep apnoea (five or more pauses in breathing per hour of sleep) and insomnia can influence the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease and overall cardiovascular disease.

The National Sleep Foundation in the US recommends that adults between the ages of 18 and 64 get between 7 and 9 hours sleep a night and for older adults aged 65 and over it is between 7 and 8 hours.

Marese Damery, Health Check Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation agreed that sleep was very important for you heart health.

“Sleeping well helps us to cope with the stresses of life which can have a positive effect on your overall health which in turn is good for your heart. Sleeping well means you will be more likely to make healthier lifestyle choices, feel happier and have more energy to be physically active. You are also more likely eat healthily. It is important to feel rested before bed and get into good sleep habits, switch off from work and technology and let your brain rest, avoid stimulating drinks such as caffeine, some people like to read, find a nice relaxing book,” she advised.