Can Sleep Problems Affect Your Heart Health?

Despite a growing awakening of the importance of sleep, more than half of those who can’t get the rest they need have never mentioned the problem to a health professional, according to a recent survey by the American College of Sleep Medicine.

By failing to address their sleep issues, people are neglecting a key factor that could improve their health and everyday lives, says Harneet Walia, M.D., medical director of sleep medicine at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.

“Optimal quantity and quality of sleep are of the utmost importance for overall health,” says Dr. Walia, who also serves as chief of clinical transformation for Baptist Health Medical Group.

Research has proven that over time, poor or inadequate sleep is associated with high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, hardened arteries, arrhythmias, heart attack, diabetes, depression, dementia, obesity and weakened immunity.

Those who don’t discuss their sleep issues with a doctor miss out on an opportunity to benefit from the latest technology and continuing medical developments designed to improve sleep. For example, in December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first prescription drug for treating moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. By reducing body weight, the once-weekly injectable can improve sleep apnea, which causes disruptions in breathing during sleep.

Other treatable sleep disorders include insomnia, a common disorder involving difficulty in either falling or staying asleep; sleep irregularity, in which sleep patterns are inconsistent; circadian rhythm disorders, in which the body’s clock does not follow normal day and night patterns; movement disorders such as nighttime leg twitching and restless leg syndrome; and narcolepsy, a chronic neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to control sleep-wake cycles.

There are more than 80 different sleep disorders, Dr. Walia notes. “The data shows most of the sleep disorders are connected with heart health,” she says.

What’s the Connection?

Always at the vanguard of innovation, Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute has long emphasized the importance of sleep. A part of Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care, it is one of the few places in the country where sleep medicine is included as part of its comprehensive cardiac program.

“Our sleep medicine program is a multidisciplinary program. We are within Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute because we know that sleep disorders also are intimately related with cardiac issues,” Dr. Walia says. The connection has been a growing area of research exploring how quality and quantity of sleep impact health.

Sleep is essential for maintaining optimal heart health because it regulates several processes critical to cardiovascular function. During sleep, the body undergoes restorative processes, including lowering blood pressure, reducing heart rate and balancing hormone levels. These changes help reduce cardiovascular stress and repair daily wear-and-tear on the heart and blood vessels.

Short sleep duration of fewer than six hours may lead to an overactive sympathetic nervous system, causing chronic stress responses that increase blood pressure, inflammation and insulin resistance. These factors collectively strain the cardiovascular system.

“We can actually measure the various physiological changes that occur in patients with sleep disorders,” Dr. Walia says. “All of these can make you more prone to negative changes in your heart health.”

Recent studies have explored how poor sleep affects biomarkers associated with heart health. For example, inadequate sleep has been linked to increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, and higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. Chronic inflammation and stress are known contributors to atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart disease.

In addition, inadequate sleep is associated with dysregulation of appetite hormones, such as leptin and ghrelin, leading to weight gain and obesity — both significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Poor sleep also impacts glucose metabolism, contributing to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, which are closely linked to heart health.

You’re Not Alone

Not getting enough sleep is a common problem. The American Heart Association and other medical organizations recommend seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night for adults, but getting there can be difficult. Roughly one in three adults reports not getting adequate rest on a regular basis, and it’s estimated that as many as 70 million Americans have chronic or ongoing sleep disorders.

During American Heart Month in February, the American Heart Association notes that an estimated 80 percent of cardiovascular disease could be prevented through lifestyle changes. One of those is getting more — and better — sleep.

Harneet Walia, M.D., medical director of sleep medicine at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and chief of clinical transformation for Baptist Health Medical Group

If you have concerns about your ability to fall asleep, stay asleep or daytime sleepiness, or if you suspect that you might have sleep apnea, talk to your primary care physician or seek the advice of a sleep specialist, Dr. Walia says. Your health depends on it.

Addressing sleep issues can be complex, but help is available. “That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing,” Dr. Walia says, “because you’re able to make people’s lives better.

Do You Know Your Coronary Calcium Score?  As part of Heart Month this February, many Baptist Health diagnostic imaging locations will be participating in our heart scan promotion. You may be eligible for a CT calcium scoring if you are 40-75 years old and meet certain cardiac risk factors. To learn more and request an appointment, visit BaptistHealth.net/HeartScan.