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Heart health is tied to how much sleep you get. There is an optimal amount of sleep: 6-8 hours per night.
Those who slept less than 6 hours per night had twice the risk of heart attack or stroke compared to those who slept 6 to 8 hours per night. Studies have linked insufficient sleep with
- hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system,
- glucose intolerance,
- an increase in cortisol,
- increase in blood pressure,
- decreased variability in heart rate,
- disruption of hypothalamic axis, and
- increase in inflammatory markers. Wow! All bad things!
Those who slept more than 8 hours per night had a twofold increased risk of heart pain (angina) and an increased risk of coronary artery disease (which may lead to heart attack). It is postulated that patients who sleep more than 8 hours per night may do so because of an underlying condition like lung disease, diabetes, or low socioeconomic status which all could contribute to cardiovascular risk.
Hope this helps.
