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Can Insomnia Increases the Risk of Heart Attack?

Can Insomnia Increases the Risk of Heart Attack?

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Not only is getting enough sleep crucial for your energy levels, but also for the health of your heart. Discover the link between heart health and sleep.

Sleep is not an indulgence. It is essential for health. Your body can mend itself while you sleep. Also, getting adequate restful sleep enables you to go about your day properly.

Sleep gives the body the chance to recover and replenish, and it is crucial for almost every element of physical health. Insufficient or interrupted sleep can increase the risk of cardiovascular conditions such heart disease, heart attacks, diabetes, and stroke. It can also affect blood pressure and increase the likelihood of heart attacks.

As a result, getting enough sleep can contribute to living a heart-healthy lifestyle. Also, for those with heart issues and may help prevent harm to the cardiovascular system in healthy individuals.

How much sleep do I need?

Adults typically require at least 7 hours of sleep per night. 1 The majority of American adults—more than 1 in 3—state that they don’t receive the necessary amount of sleep. 2 While this could be alright for a day or two, chronic sleep deprivation can cause serious health issues and exacerbate some already existing conditions.

Health conditions linked to lack of sleep

People who sleep for fewer than 7 hours a night are more likely to report having health issues, such as asthma attacks, heart attacks, and depression. The risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke is increased by certain of these medical conditions. These health issues consist of:

  • Elevated blood pressure. Your blood pressure lowers when you are sleeping normally. Your blood pressure will be higher for a longer time if you have sleep issues. One of the major dangers for heart disease and stroke is high blood pressure. One in three individuals in America, or 75 million people, have excessive blood pressure.
  • Diabetes type 2. Diabetes is a condition that can harm your blood vessels because it causes blood sugar levels to rise. According to several research, having adequate restful sleep may enhance people’s ability to control their blood sugar.
  • Obesity. Unhealthy weight gain might be a result of sleep deprivation. Children and teenagers need more sleep than adults do, therefore this is particularly true for them. Lack of sleep may have an impact on the area of the brain that manages hunger.

How Sleep Deprivation Affect Heart Health?

There is strong evidence that sleep disorders, such as sleep deprivation and fragmented sleep, are harmful to heart health.

The body needs time to rest in order to heal itself. The non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep stages are characterised by a slowed heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and stable breathing. These modifications lessen the heart’s workload, allowing it to recover from the strain it experiences while awake.

Without enough sleep each night, a person doesn’t spend enough time in the deep NREM sleep stages that are good for the heart. Those who experience frequent interruptions to their sleep may experience the same issue.

Chronic sleep loss has been associated with a variety of cardiac issues, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks, obesity, diabetes, and stroke.

Blood pressure during sleep

Blood pressure decreases by about 10% to 20% when you sleep normally and healthily. Research has shown that this practise, known as nocturnal dipping, is important for cardiovascular health.

Poor sleep is linked to non-dipping, which is when a person’s blood pressure doesn’t drop at night due to lack of sleep or sleep interruptions. According to studies, having high nocturnal blood pressure is associated with generalised hypertension (high blood pressure).

In fact, studies have shown that high blood pressure during the night is much more indicative of heart issues than high blood pressure during the day. Non-dipping has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Reduced blood supply to the brain and kidney issues have also been connected to it.

Many studies have shown that sleep loss has the effect of raising daytime blood pressure, however not everyone is affected equally. In middle-aged people, the connection between sleep deprivation and high blood pressure is strongest. Individuals who have other hypertension risk factors, work long hours in stressful occupations, or have chronically poor sleep patterns are more likely to have elevated blood pressure.

Coronary Heart Disease and Sleep

The most common cause of death in the US is coronary heart disease. It is sometimes referred to as coronary artery disease and occurs when atherosclerotic atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in the arteries, causes them to harden and narrow. The heart’s capacity to receive enough blood and oxygen is decreased as a result.

Lack of sleep has been linked to atherosclerosis, according to research. White blood cells, which are produced by the immune system and accumulate in the arteries as a result of inflammation, lead to the formation of plaque. Chronic inflammation is sparked by a lack of sleep, and this chronic inflammation makes the arteries harder and leads to plaque buildup.

It is also thought that the effects of sleep on blood pressure affect how sleep loss affects coronary heart disease. The arteries are strained by hypertension, which reduces their ability to carry blood to the heart and makes heart disease more likely.

Heart failure and sleep

Heart failure occurs when there is insufficient blood flow from the heart to provide the body with the oxygen and blood it requires to function. Strong correlations between sleep issues and heart failure were observed in an observational research including more than 400,000 persons.

People in that study had a higher chance of developing heart failure if they slept for fewer than seven hours per night. Heart failure was also more prevalent in individuals who had other signs of poor sleep, such as symptoms of insomnia, daytime sleepiness, snoring, and an evening personality. One’s risk of developing heart failure increases with the number of these symptoms of poor sleep they experience.

A Heart Attack and Sleep

When the blood supply to the heart is cut off, a heart attack—also referred to as a myocardial infarction—occurs. Due to the harm that results from the heart not receiving enough oxygen, heart attacks are sometimes fatal.

Lack of sleep increases the risk of heart attacks. According to one study, those who slept for fewer than six hours per night had a 20% increased risk of having a heart attack. NREM sleep aids the heart in slowing down and recovering, whereas REM sleep is more stressful and active. The balance of these stages can get off if you don’t get enough sleep, which raises your risk of having a heart attack.

Heart attacks may occur if sleep disturbances occur, according to some research. Frequent sleep disturbances can create cardiac stress and may result in a heart attack because both heart rate and blood pressure might suddenly jump upon awakening.

Stroke and sleep

A stroke occurs when the brain’s blood supply is interrupted, depriving brain cells of oxygen and resulting in cell death. Ischemic strokes happen when an artery is blocked by a blood clot or plaque. A mini-stroke, also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), merely includes a momentary blockage.

Lack of sleep has been linked in studies to a higher chance of suffering a stroke. Lack of sleep raises blood pressure, and high blood pressure is thought to be the main contributor to stroke risk. Insufficient sleep may also make it simpler for blockages to happen and result in mini-strokes or strokes by promoting the building of plaque in the arteries.

Sleep and Heart Rate

The heart rate normally decreases throughout NREM sleep stages and then increases as you get ready to wake up.

A poor night’s sleep, particularly sudden awakenings, can cause a sudden increase in heart rate. According to research, those who have trouble sleeping are more prone to experience irregular heartbeats. These factors suggest that sleep deprivation and heart palpitations may be related.

Also, a research of senior citizens revealed that those who frequently experience nightmares are far more likely to report having an abnormal pulse. When a person’s sleep is disrupted by a nightmare, their heart rate may rise, and they may awaken feeling as though their heart is racing.

Chest Pain and Sleep

There are several causes of chest pain. Angina is a type of chest pain brought on by inadequate blood flow via blood arteries. Heart problems are unrelated to non-cardiac chest pain, such as heartburn or a muscle injury.

Studies have found a link between sleep deprivation and chest discomfort, and they also show that when sleep is disrupted, a fast rise in blood pressure and heart rate can result in angina.

Even non-cardiac chest pain may be related to sleep. Sleep disturbances are a common symptom of heartburn and acid reflux, which may increase the likelihood that these people will experience chest pain in the middle of the night.

Undiagnosed chest discomfort and poor sleep have also been linked in numerous studies. High incidence of symptoms like sleeplessness are present in those with persistent, unexplained chest discomfort. This connection may be related to stress and anxiety, including panic attacks, which are emotional responses that may be more frequent in persons with poor sleep, however its exact nature is unknown.

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Do we actually need more sleep in the winter?

Do we actually need more sleep in the winter?

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A vital part of wellbeing is sleep, and getting enough of it helps the body heal and function normally. According to a recent study, people get more REM sleep in the winter, which is an essential part of the regular sleep cycle.

To corroborate the results of this study in the broader population, more data is required. Yet, people can make efforts to encourage sound sleep during the winter, a season in which doing so may be particularly important.

Everyone requires sleep, yet everyone’s demands are different. Research is ongoing to determine what influences sleep requirements and the most effective course of action.

A recent study examined how seasonal changes in sleep patterns. The researchers discovered that REM sleep is more prevalent during the months of winter.

Human sleep study

The research team enlisted 292 patients to take part in sleep studies termed polysomnographies, which are conducted on individuals who have trouble falling or staying asleep.

The volunteers visited a specialised lab where they were instructed to go to sleep naturally, without setting an alarm, so that the duration, kind, and quality of their sleep could be observed.

Although sleep issues may have affected the results, the study’s design allowed for a sizable group to be evenly distributed throughout the year, which helped to better show variations from month to month.

Those who took sleep-related medications, those who experienced technical difficulties during the polysomnography, and participants whose REM sleep latency was greater than 120 minutes—which suggested that the initial REM sleep episode had been skipped—were excluded from the study.

There were 188 subjects left after the exclusions. The majority of their diagnoses exhibited little seasonal variation, while sleeplessness was more frequently identified as the year’s end approached.

Importance of REM sleep

Several facets of life, including physical, emotional, and mental health, are impacted by sleep. Sleep duration and quality have an impact on bodily functions like immune system, metabolism, heart health, and memory.

The several stages of sleep that people go through are all necessary for a restful night’s sleep.

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is one type of sleep. The brain is more active during REM sleep, and dreams are experienced. REM sleep is beneficial for controlling mood. Moreover, it enhances immunological performance, focus, and memory.

According to the results of this latest study, there may be seasons of the year when people experience more REM sleep.

M​ore REM sleep in the winter

This specific study focused on variations in seasonal sleep patterns. All through the year, researchers examined the subjects’ sleep patterns. The individuals were already dealing with some sleep abnormalities, such as insomnia and sleep-related respiratory issues.

When conducting their analysis, the researchers used 188 participants. Participants were monitored while they slept using a method known as polysomnography.

Participants were encouraged by the researchers to stick to their usual bedtime routines. Alarm clocks were not allowed to be used by participants. Participants were disqualified from the study based on a few important factors, such as the usage of sleep-interfering drugs.

To Medical News Today, research author Dieter Kunz provided the following significant findings:

“In our work, we demonstrate that, in an adult population residing in an urban environment, human sleep architecture differs significantly across seasons. In a sizable population with neuropsychiatric sleep disorders, we employed polysomnography to record the various stages of sleep over the course of a full year.

According to Kunz, they discovered three intriguing findings:

  • In comparison to summer, people slept an hour more during the winter.
  • I had about 30 minutes more of REM sleep in the winter than the spring.
  • Got 40 minutes fewer of deep sleep in the fall than the other months.

Researchers found no statistical significance in the one-hour sleep gap between the winter and summer seasons. Instead, one of their key areas of interest was the seasonal variations in REM sleep.

Get better sleep in the winter

The American Board of Sleep Medicine-certified sleep specialist Nicole Eichelberger focuses on abnormalities of the circadian rhythm, apnea, and insomnia. Eichelberger gave us some advice for getting a good night’s sleep, which included maintaining a consistent sleep routine.

Even on weekends, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, she advised.

Making a sleep-friendly environment is also beneficial.

Ensure that your bedroom is cold, quiet, and dark. Utilize supportive bedding and soft pillows, advised Eichelberger.

Restrict your screen time before bed.

It can be more difficult to fall asleep due to the blue light emitted by electronic gadgets, according to her. Melatonin is a hormone that promotes sleep.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine.

Both can interfere with your sleep and make it more difficult to get enough rest, she explained.

Develop your relaxing skills.

You can relax and be ready for sleep by engaging in activities like yoga, deep breathing, or meditation, according to Eichelberger.

She continued by saying that sleep is essential for both our physical and mental health because it aids in both memory consolidation and learning as well as body recovery and repair.

Persistent sleep loss has been connected to a number of health problems, including as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, she said. “On the other side, it has been demonstrated that getting adequate sleep strengthens our immune system, lifts our mood, and improves our cognitive performance. Simply put, having enough good sleep is crucial for our overall health.

REFERENCES:

  • https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/do-we-actually-need-more-sleep-in-the-winter
  • https://www.healthline.com/health-news/seasonal-sleeping-why-we-need-more-rest-in-the-winter
  • https://www.aprilaire.com/blog/more-sleep-winter/
  • https://patient.info/news-and-features/do-you-need-more-sleep-when-its-cold

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Challenges of Insomnia in an individual’s life.

Challenges of Insomnia in an individual’s life.

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What is Insomnia?

Millions of individuals all around the world constantly experience insomnia, a sleep problem. A person with insomnia has trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. Depending on their age, adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), require between 7-9 hours of sleep every night.

According to research, 25% of Americans report having insomnia each year, although 75% of these people do not go on to have a chronic condition. Short-term insomnia can cause daytime weariness, attention problems, and other issues. Long-term, it could raise the risk of contracting certain illnesses.

An insomniac has trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep. They might often get up too early.

This may result in problems like:

  • Lethargy and tiredness during the day
  • an overall sense of being physically and mentally ill
  • anxiety, impatience, and changes in mood

Additionally, the aforementioned problems may be causes, effects, or both of insomnia.

In addition, chronic illnesses like the following may be influenced by insomnia:

  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • a cardiovascular condition
  • depression

It can also impair a person’s effectiveness at work and school and restrict their capacity to carry out daily tasks.

Causes of insomnia

There are many different medical and psychological causes of insomnia. Frequently, a transient issue, such as transient stress, is the root reason. In certain other cases, an underlying medical problem is the cause of the sleeplessness. Typical causes include

  • dealing with any additional adjustments to the body’s internal clock, such as jet lag, shift changes at work, or other circumstances
  • If it prevents sleep, it could be the bed being uncomfortable, the room being too hot, cold, or noisy, or taking care of a family member.
  • getting insufficient exercise
  • experiencing nightmares or nocturnal terrors
  • utilising drugs for fun, such cocaine or ecstasy

Some people experience insomnia as a result of stress or a mental health condition. A person might be going through:

Other medical disorders that may interfere with sleep include:

  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • excessive thyroid activity
  • nap apnea
  • GERD, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease
  • COPD, also referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • chronic pain

Sleeping problems are frequently caused by signs of various health problems or by changes in the natural world. For instance, hormonal changes during menopause might cause night sweats, which can keep you awake. Sleep patterns are disturbed or altered in patients with Alzheimer’s disease due to abnormalities in the brain.

Additionally, some people experience fatal familial insomnia, a rare genetic disease that makes it difficult to fall asleep and may possibly be fatal.

Symptoms of insomnia

In addition to interrupted sleep, insomnia can result in various problems, including:

  • daytime drowsiness or weariness
  • irritation, sadness, or worry
  • signs of the digestive system
  • low dynamism or motivation
  • insufficient focus and attention
  • an absence of coordination that results in mistakes or accidents
  • anxiousness or fear about sleeping
  • using sleeping pills or booze
  • stress headaches
  • having issues working, learning, or socialising

According to experts, sleep deprivation is a major contributing factor in car accidents.

Types of insomnia

Depending on the duration, insomnia can be categorised as follows:

  • A short-term issue is acute, brief sleeplessness.
  • It may take months or years to overcome chronic insomnia.

The causes are also classified by doctors:

  • A problem in and of itself is primary insomnia.
  • Secondary insomnia is brought on by another medical condition.

They also categorise it according to severity:

  • Mild insomnia is characterised by a lack of sleep that causes fatigue.
  • Daily functioning may be impacted by moderate insomnia.
  • Life is significantly affected by severe sleeplessness.

When determining the kind of insomnia, doctors also take into account additional variables, such as whether the patient regularly wakes up too early or experiences difficulty:

  • a sound slumber
  • remaining in bed
  • getting quality sleep

Treatments

Depending on the underlying issue and the type of insomnia, several approaches may be best, however some possibilities include:

  • counselling
  • CBT stands for cognitive behavioural therapy.
  • medicines on prescription
  • several over-the-counter sleep aids that can be purchased online
  • Melatonin, which can be purchased online as well

Melatonin may promote sleep, however there isn’t enough convincing evidence to support this claim.

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Is there a link between Sleep apnea and ED?

Is there a link between Sleep apnea and ED?

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Sleep disorder

Sleep disorder is a condition that interfere with your normal sleeping pattern. As per reports and data, there are probably more than 80 different types of sleep disorder. Some of the major types include:

  • Sleep Apnea – A sleeping disorder that causes you to stop breathing for more than 10 seconds at a time
  • Insomnia – The most common types of sleep disorder is Insomnia. An individual is unable to fall sleep or unable to stay asleep.
  • Circadian rhythm disorders – This disorder deals with problem in sleep-wake cycle. It makes difficult for an individual to sleep and wakeup at usual time.
  • Parasomnia – This disorder makes an individual to act weird when they sleep, during sleep, and when they wakeup. Such weird acts include walking, talking, and eating.
  • Hypersomnia – This disorder makes an individual unable of staying awake during daytime. This disorder causes extreme sleepiness during daytime which includes narcolepsy.

It is possible for some people to have a sleep disorder if they feel tired during the day. However, the real problem is the time to allow enough sleep for an individual daily.

Cause of sleep disorder

That are different factors that causes or acts as a factor that contributes sleep disorder such as:

  • Mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety
  • Medicines
  • Genetics
  • Heart disease, lung disease, nerve disorder, and pain
  • alcohol and caffeine
  • night shifts
  • aging, etc.

What is Erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is basically a disorder found in men which could be a sign of physical or psychological condition. The symptoms associated with this disorder is found in men’s reproductive organ i.e. inability to keep an erection firmer and longer enough during a sexual activity.

Erectile dysfunction is a treatable disorder which includes many possible methods such as natural remedies, alternative medicine, and prescription drugs. In this article, let us discuss about some faster ways to treat this disorder.

There are many men who experience erectile dysfunction occasionally because of stress, fatigue, alcohol, or emotional issues, but 25% of men have recurring episodes of the disorder. People dealing with erectile dysfunction will be:

  • Unable to achieve erection at anytime needed.
  • might achieve erection sometime but not when needed like during sexual activity.
  • might able to achieve erection when needed but not long enough

Link between sleep apnea and Erectile dysfunction

There may be a connection between the two i.e. sleep apnea and testosterone levels. A study found that people with sleep apnea have lower levels of testosterone, a hormone that is essential for sexual function.  

What does the research say?

Studies have shown that men suffering from obstructive sleep apnea have a higher probability of suffering from ED, and vice versa. According to a 2009 report Journal of Sexual Medicine study, 69 percent of male participants had ED who were also diagnosed with OSA.

The results of a study published in 2016 showed that 63 percent of study participants with sleep apnea suffered from erectile dysfunction. Comparatively, ED was diagnosed in only 47 percent of men in the study without OSA.

Additionally, according to a survey conducted in 2016, over 120 men with ED reported sleep apnea symptoms 55 percent of the time. There was also a higher chance that men with ED had other undiagnosed sleep disorders.  

Sleep apnea causing erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction and sleep apnea are two conditions that are very different but very closely related. It is possible to diagnose each of these conditions with a variety of blood tests and clinical assessments, but each diagnosis begins with a discussion with a healthcare professional. Get in touch with your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms of either condition.

There is a possibility that you will be asked about your personal, family, and sexual health histories. In addition, blood tests can help determine the balance of chemicals within your body. Certain sleep studies might be suggested by your doctor for sleep apnea, whereas, certain tests based on anatomy and functions are used for diagnosis of erectile dysfunction which includes X-rays and other imaging studies.

Overview

Sleep apnea, especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is the most common type. It’s a potentially serious disorder. Sleep apnea is characterized by the repeated cessation of breathing during sleep. Sleeping is difficult for them because they snore a lot.

It is possible for sleep disorders to affect testosterone levels and oxygen levels. There are a number of issues that can result from that, including erectile dysfunction (ED). Obstructive sleep apnea men have a higher incidence of ED than men without the disorder, but doctors aren’t certain why.

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