Everyone knows the importance of a good night’s sleep. But many people don’t realize just how important it is. Lack of sleep doesn’t just make you tired – it is debilitating for the entire body. Your sleep doctor in NYC wants you to understand how sleep affects your heart health and how a lack of sleep can be detrimental to the entire body. From increased dental issues to permanent brain damage, insomnia will wreak havoc the longer it goes on undiagnosed. Find out how your heart and body can suffer heavily from a lack of sleep.
How Sleep Affects Your Heart Health
There are some nights where you just might not sleep as much as usual. It could be because you are sick, or because you have to wake up really early to travel. These occasional exceptions won’t do much to hurt you over the long run; however, if you start having more sleepless nights than restful ones, it starts to become an issue.
It is important that adults get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. If you are consistently not getting enough sleep, you will start to suffer detrimental health effects throughout your entire body. Your heart and respiratory system are at risk the longer you live with poor sleep patterns.
Health Problems Caused By Sleep Deprivation
The longer you go without a consistent sleeping schedule, the more you are putting your body at risk for different health developments. Many different health problems can cause your heart health to deteriorate. Certain conditions put you at a higher risk of heart attack or heart disease:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Interrupted appetite
Your lack of sleep may be caused by undue stress in your life, and it could also be because of an underlying sleep condition. Prolonged exposure to unhealthy sleep patterns can put a toll on your heart, making it more difficult for your heart to keep beating at the same pace.
Underlying Causes of Sleep Problems
Your body needs sleep to rest and recuperate. If it doesn’t get to rest for the proper amount of time, it will have a more difficult time working the next day. When this problem becomes chronic, you will start having heart problems due to a constant lack of sleep. Some of the biggest causes of chronic sleep issues include:
Insomnia
If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you may be suffering from insomnia. This condition exists in almost 50% of American adults and can contribute heavily to heart disease. Insomnia leads to a consistent lack of sleep, which starts to have poor effects on the rest of the body.
Sleep Apnea
Do you ever wake up gasping for air? Does your partner report that you snore loudly or stop breathing during the night? These are sure signs of sleep apnea. This condition is marked by the blocking of your airways during sleep, cutting off oxygen to the heart and brain for a few seconds. This can lead to major health issues and even death if it remains untreated.
Get Better Sleep with Professional Treatment Today
Living with constant sleep deprivation is no joke. It is important to assess the health of your sleep schedule before symptoms grow worse. The longer you go without consistently sleeping more than 7 hours a night, the bigger the risk of heart problems will be. Prevent long-term issues and get the best insomnia treatment in New York City when you contact Dr. Shukla at Sleep MD NYC today. We can help you trace your symptoms of insomnia to the cause of your sleep deprivation issues, restoring health to your body as a whole. Get in touch with us to schedule your personal consultation!
