Poor sleep has been linked to high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, heart failure, heart attack and stroke, diabetes and obesity; and the thread that ties these together may be inflammation -- the body's response to injury, infection, irritation or disease, according to the Harvard Heart Letter.
Poor sleep increases levels of C-reactive protein and other substances that reflect active inflammation, while it also revs up the body's sympathetic nervous system, which is activated by fright or stress.
Sometimes heart disease is a cause of poor sleep. People with heart failure may wake up with trouble breathing, which stems from fluid buildup in the lungs.
The Harvard Heart Letter suggests that if a person isn't getting enough sleep, better sleep habits may help, but if they don't work, consult a doctor about having a sleep evaluation.For better sleep the newsletter advises to:
