The Heart-Sleep Connection

In case you need another reason to prioritize sleep… Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Thus, finding ways in which we can improve our heart health can help us to live long and happy lives. When many people think of improving heart health diet and exercise immediately spring to mind. While diet and exercise certainly play a role, sleep is also associated with healthy hearts.

The Association Between Sleep and Heart Health

The link between sleep and heart health is most evident by the fact that, without enough sleep, your risk for heart disease and heart attack increase. This increase is seen regardless of age, weight, or exercise habits. One of the ways in which sleep influences heart health is via blood pressure. In healthy individuals, blood pressure goes down during sleep. If we do not get enough sleep (or the quality of sleep is poor) then our blood pressure stays higher, for longer.