Disordered Sleep Patterns Potentially Damaging for Heart Health
In a new study, researchers have found that having a consistent sleep pattern can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems. The study, led by Brooke Shafer, Ph.D., at Oregon Health & Science University, focused on the sleep habits of 32 patients recovering from acute heart failure between September 2022 and October 2023.
The findings, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, suggest that regular sleep and wake times are particularly important for adults with heart failure. Jean-Philippe Chaput, a pediatrician and sleep researcher at the University of Ottawa in Canada, defines regular sleep as sleeping and waking up at least within an hour of the same time each night.
The study analyzed data from the UK Biobank, a longstanding research project that has proactively followed residents' health for many years. The researchers studied the health of over 70,000 people who had no preexisting cardiovascular disease at the start of the study.
The study found that those who consistently went to bed and woke up at a regular time were less likely to experience strokes, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular issues. In contrast, irregular sleepers were 26% more likely to experience cardiovascular problems than regular sleepers.
This added risk was seen even in irregular sleepers who got lots of sleep, indicating that sleep regularity itself is crucial. Waking up at the same time each day, even during weekends, is a priority for maintaining heart health. For people trying to catch up on sleep during weekends, going to bed earlier is better than sleeping in.
Thomas Münzel, an environmental cardiologist at the University of Mainz, has shown that sleep disturbance caused by noise leads to stress hormone release and oxidative stress, impairing blood vessels and increasing cardiovascular risk.
The study's findings add to the growing body of evidence that sleep regularity might be more influential than sleep duration on heart health. However, more research is needed to confirm this.
Interestingly, a natural remedy for sleep irregularity could be adopting a cat, as they can serve as a consistent alarm clock. However, the best approach to maintaining a consistent sleep pattern is to establish a regular sleep schedule and stick to it as closely as possible.
In conclusion, getting an adequate amount of sleep (about 7 to 9 hours a night) is important for both physical and mental health. Consistently irregular sleepers still face an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, even when they get enough sleep. Therefore, it is essential to prioritise regular sleep for the sake of heart health.
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