Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Updated : June 15, 2015 9:50 PM IST
Heart disease does not announce its presence with any sweeping declarations and is very often diagnosed only during routine checks. In fact, many young people these days suffer from a silent heart attack that has absolutely no prior symptoms. Although there is no specific way to be free from the fear of developing heart disease, there is substantial evidence that it could be more common in individuals who sleep for fewer hours.
When you're sleep deprived your nervous system activity increases. This increases the heart rate, and constriction of blood vessels. It also causes the body to retain more salts. All of these factors could be associated with high blood pressure, a significant contributor to heart disease. Increased nervous system activity also interferes with the functioning of the pancreas that control sugar levels in the body. So a sleep deprived person could be at risk of diabetes as well. Not only that, the risk could be higher in people with sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where obstruction of airways causes interrupted sleep.
Sleep is one of the basic necessities of life. So, don't ignore it to an extent that it costs you your life. Many experts recommend a 6-7 hours of daily sleep, but this may vary depending on your requirements. Here are some exert tips that can help you sleep well.
References:
Michiaki Nagai et al. Sleep Duration as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease- a Review of the Recent Literature
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