Heart attacks, which are also known as myocardial infarctions, can take place suddenly and can cause serious long-lasting damage to your heart muscles. In many cases, heart attacks result in fatalities.

While there are various factors that can increase the risk of heart attacks, the quantity and quality of sleep and number of work hours are strongly connected with a person’s likelihood of suffering from a heart attack.

Lack of Sleep and Heart Attack Risk

A lack of sleep is harmful to a person’s health in countless ways, including an increased risk of ailments such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and depression. Additionally, a lack of sleep is a strong predictor of heart attacks.

Lack of sleep, especially when it becomes a chronic pattern, can lead to changes in your body that make you more susceptible to a heart attack.

When your body is sleep deprived, the cells of your body are not as responsive to insulin, a hormone that helps to regulate your blood sugar level.

In turn, your body becomes less efficient at managing glucose, which can lead to the development of diabetes. Furthermore, sleep deprivation activates a stress response in your body, which can cause an increase in inflammation and blood pressure – two factors that can lead to heart attacks.

Besides, people who sleep less than six hours per night are more likely to develop heart disease and have a 48% increased risk of developing heart attacks, according to research.

Excessive Work Hours and Heart Attack Risk

Working long hours may seem like a necessary evil, but the negative effect on your health can be dire. Similarly to lack of sleep, working too many hours increases the stress response in your body.

Stress causes your heart to pump harder and faster than usual, which can make your blood pressure and cholesterol levels rise.

Research has shown that people who work more than 55 hours per week have a 13% increased risk of heart attacks compared to individuals who work fewer hours.

The risk of heart disease is even higher for employees who have longer work hours and work under high stress conditions constantly. During long hours of work, individuals are also more likely to have an unhealthy lifestyle that includes drinking, unhealthy diet, sleep deprivation, and little exercise – all of which can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Why is sleep important?

Sleep is essential for physical and emotional well-being and helps your body to rest, repair, and rejuvenate. Several factors influence our sleep patterns, including daily routines, habits, diet, and age.

Inadequate sleep can lead to a range of problems, such as poor memory, difficulty concentrating, and poor performance. According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults should ideally sleep for seven to nine hours per night.

How to avoid heart attack risk?

There are various steps you can take to reduce your risk of heart attacks:.

Get enough sleep: Make sure to get enough hours of sleep each night. Create a relaxing and peaceful sleep environment by limiting noise, light, and distractions in your room.
Manage stress: Try to identify your stress triggers and take necessary steps to avoid or manage them. Practice relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises that can help you relax and reduce your stress levels.
Be physically active: Participate in regular physical activity that can reduce your risk of developing heart diseases. Walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling for at least 30 minutes per day can make a huge difference in your health.
Eat a healthy diet: A healthy diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help maintain a healthy body weight, reduce your blood pressure, and lower cholesterol levels.
Reduce alcohol consumption: Drinking alcohol excessively can increase your blood pressure and damage your heart muscles. So, limit your alcohol consumption to moderate levels or avoid it completely.

The Bottom Line

Heart attack can be a life-threatening condition that affects millions of people worldwide. In many cases, the occurrence of a heart attack is entirely avoidable by making lifestyle changes that prioritize quality and quantity of sleep.

A restful night’s sleep, combined with a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and stress managing behaviors, can reduce your risk of heart disease significantly. Therefore, individuals should make a concerted effort to prioritize their well-being by making appropriate lifestyle choices to reduce the likelihood of the onset of life-threatening heart conditions.