Getting a good night’s rest plays an important role in your heart health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most adults need about seven hours of sleep. Yet, more than one in three Americans say they don’t get the recommended amount of sleep.
While skimping on sleep for a night or two may be OK, regularly getting too little — or too much — sleep can be problematic.
Research shows sleep disorders and inadequate sleep can cause problems for your heart. It can increase inflammation as well as risk for obesity and high blood pressure.
If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, follow these tips from the American Heart Association (AHA):
- Exercise during the day. Exercise helps reduce the stress that keeps you up at night, but try not to exercise within a few hours of bedtime. Move your phone or other electronic devices away from your bed to reduce distraction and light that could interfere with your sleep.
- Don’t eat or drink within a few hours of bedtime, especially foods high in sugar, fat or alcohol.
- Try to stick to a set bedtime routine. An AHA study of 2,000 people found that those whose sleep times varied by more than 90 minutes day to day had double the risk for a heart attack or stroke.
- Have a set morning routine. Having a regular wake time helps improve night sleep.
If you are having difficulty getting regular sleep, talk to your physician to see if other issues need to be addressed or if sleep aids would benefit you.
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