Linking Sleep and Heart Disease

The link between sleep and heart disease is a two-way street: Poor sleep can add to heart disease, and heart disease can hurt sleep, says a U.S. newsletter.

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:

• Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.

   

• Use a bed only for sleeping or sex.

   

• If you can't sleep, get out of bed.

   

• Go easy on alcohol and caffeine; avoid nicotine.

   

• Exercise in the late afternoon.