A good night’s sleep is extremely important for overall health and well-being. A new study has found that irregular sleep patterns can be bad for health, especially the heart.
Experts have advocated the importance of sleep for the last few decades for both mental and physical health. It helps in avoiding chronic fatigue and helping you feel rejuvenated.
In this article, we will discuss why a good night’s sleep is extremely important along with the measures that will help you sleep better.
Benefits of Good Night’s Sleep
There are several studies that show that a good night’s sleep provides several health benefits.
The health benefits of sleeping include: maintaining a healthy weight, building better relationships, improving your mood, reducing stress, and more.
Problems Caused by Irregular Sleep
Heart disease, such as atherosclerosis, is a complicated problem with many causes.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. That does not mean atherosclerosis is caused by irregular sleep patterns. Rather, it means that irregular sleep can be one of the contributing factors of atherosclerosis. Irregular sleep can also be caused by lifestyle habits, like poor diet and irregular timing of food.
As per the 2020 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, irregular sleep patterns are bad for cardiovascular health, as they significantly increase risk of heart stroke and attack. The study found that people with sleep patterns are more likely to develop cardiovascular problems in comparison to people who get a good night’s sleep and have regular sleep patterns.
Irregular sleep can lead to numerous health problems, as it can cause chronic fatigue through sleep deprivation. That eventually results in increased possibilities of weight gain, low energy level, poor dietary choices, and lesser physical activity.
Lack of sleep can also lead to high blood pressure, which is one of the leading causes of heart stroke and disease. That's why a good night’s sleep is extremely crucial for overall health and well being.
Signs of Heart Disease
Signs of heart disease include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Chest discomfort
- Pain in the neck
- Chest tightness
- Numbness or weakness in the limbs
How to Sleep Better?
There are several measures you can take to get a great night’s sleep. These include avoiding artificial light, avoiding drinking and eating before sleeping, sticking to the same sleeping schedule, getting proper physical activity during the day, and keeping the bedroom quiet and dark.
Overall, the aforementioned study found that regular sleep patterns can be modified to get a good night’s sleep, which helps in reducing risk of atherosclerosis.
According to studies, the body likes a schedule, so it's recommended to go to sleep and wake up in the morning at the same time. Experts recommend maintaining a consistent sleep schedule even on weekends to maximize heart health.