The Effect of Sleep-Deprivation to Your Heart and What You Can Do to Prevent It

Contributed by Nicole Keller.

We function better when we get enough sleep. This goes for everyone, from babies to adults. If you are continuously sleep-deprived, your health, including your heart health, will be impacted.

Some studies have found a connection between not getting enough sleep and high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases your risk of stroke and heart diseases.

When you lack sleep, blood sugar tends to rise which increases your risk of diabetes which in turns increases risk of heart disease.

Here are a few things that you can start doing now to prevent sleep-deprivation:

Follow a sleeping schedule. – Decide a specific time when you will go to bed at night – it shouldn’t be too late. Also, designate your waking time and then regularly stick to that schedule.

As your body becomes accustomed to the sleep routine it will be easier to fall asleep each night. The regularity of the schedule will signal your body to rest when it’s time.

Replace your mattress. – Unknowingly, your old mattress may be the culprit for why you are not sleeping well. If you have had it for ages, it may now be saggy and deformed.

Replacing a mattress is not hard with all the options available. There are even options to purchase mattresses online. If the bulky purchase worries you, get a mattress in a box. It’s a typical mattress but compressed into a smaller package. If you’re buying online though, check the warranties section for more information.

Moderate gadget usage. – As it’s getting closer to bedtime, avoid gadget usage. First thing, it is addicting. You can shop, connect with people, get informed with just a few taps. Before you know it, you’ve spent the better part of the night scrolling down your phone.

Secondly, your gadgets emit a blue light that inhibits the release of melatonin in the body. Melatonin is important as it regulates the sleep pattern and its production peaks at night. So, when you have less melatonin it is more difficult for you to sleep.

Start paying attention to the aspects of your life that impact your sleep. It essential to your overall health and especially your heart health. You can start with the steps outlined above to work towards a better sleep at night.

Drs. Chris and Kara Mohr developed the 21 Days to Better Sleep program. I highly recommend it. Their videos with instructions are engaging and the content can be put to good use so you achieve quality sleep each night. Learn more and purchase the program here.