Sleep disturbances are becoming a common issue among people of all ages. People who suffer from sleep disturbances often feel tired and stressed throughout the day.

However, recent research shows that sleep disturbances can have much more serious consequences than just feeling tired. Experts say that consistent lack of sleep can affect our brain and body in multiple ways, one of them being increased risk of stroke.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is blocked or interrupted, resulting in the brain cells receiving insufficient oxygen and nutrients.

As a consequence, the affected brain cells begin to die leading to a wide range of symptoms that depend on the part of the brain affected. Stroke can be caused by several factors, some of which include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol levels.

How Sleep Disturbances Affect the Brain

Sleep is a crucial time for our brain to rest and recover from all the work it does during the day. While we sleep, our brain processes and stores the information we collected during the day.

Also, important hormones that are essential for our brain functions, such as growth hormone, are produced during sleep. Therefore, when we don’t get enough sleep, our brain doesn’t get the rest it needs, and we are more prone to developing health problems.

During sleep, our brain removes the toxic waste products that accumulate during the day. Researchers have found that people who don’t get enough sleep have higher levels of a toxic protein called beta-amyloid in their brains.

The accumulation of this protein has been linked to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Furthermore, people who suffer from sleep disturbances have shown to have changes in the way their blood vessels function, which can lead to increased inflammation and oxidative stress.

These changes can have a significant impact on the blood flow to the brain and, over time, increase the risk of stroke.

The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Stroke

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where the person’s breathing is periodically interrupted during sleep.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, where the airway becomes blocked, and the person stops breathing for short periods.

Sleep apnea has been shown to increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, due to the changes it causes in the body.

During an apneic event, our blood oxygen levels drop, which can trigger several physiological responses, such as increased blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and systemic inflammation. All these factors have a direct impact on our blood vessels and can cause damage to them over time.

People with sleep apnea have an increased risk of stroke compared to people without it. A study showed that people with severe sleep apnea are four times more likely to have a stroke than people without sleep apnea.

However, the risk can be reduced when sleep apnea is properly treated.

Ways to Improve your Sleep

If you suffer from sleep disturbances, there are multiple ways you can improve your sleep quality and reduce your chances of developing health problems. Some tips include:.

Stick to a regular sleep schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
Create a relaxing bedtime routine: Engage in activities that help you relax, such as reading a book, listening to calming music.
Create a comfortable sleep environment: Make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool.
Avoid electronic devices before bedtime: The blue light emitted from electronic devices can affect your sleep quality.
Limit caffeine and alcohol: Both can interfere with your sleep, so try to limit your consumption of both.
Get regular exercise: regular exercise can help you sleep better at night, but make sure you finish exercising several hours before bed.
Consider consulting a sleep specialist: If you suffer from sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, a sleep specialist can help you find a suitable treatment and improve your sleep quality.

Conclusion

Sleep is a crucial part of our daily routine, and not getting enough sleep can have serious consequences, including an increased risk of stroke.

Therefore, it’s important to take steps to improve our sleep quality and ensure our brain and body get the rest and recovery they need to function efficiently.