Sleep is a physiological process that is significant for our overall health. Proper sleep improves our brain function, supports physical recovery, and rejuvenates our body.

However, inadequate sleep can cause chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

What is Infarction?

Infarction is a medical term that describes the blockage of a blood supply to an organ, causing tissue damage. When it affects the heart, it is called a myocardial infarction, which is commonly known as a heart attack.

Link between Sleep and Infarction Risk

Several studies have found that sleep is essential for regulating blood pressure and heart rate. Poor sleep quality increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, stroke, and myocardial infarction.

A study conducted on 4757 participants indicated that those who slept for less than six hours had an absolute risk of 2.3% of developing infarction considering other confounding factors like age, gender, and smoking.

How Sleep Promotes Heart Health?

During the sleep cycle, the body lowers blood pressure and heart rate, enabling the body to relax and recover from daily stressors. Additionally, the body produces nitric oxide during sleep that helps widen blood vessels and regulate blood flow.

Poor quality sleep can lead to inflammation, increased cortisol levels, and irregular heart rhythm, which collectively increase the chances of CVD.

Sleep Apnea and Infarction

Sleep apnea is a disorder that is characterized by snoring, breathing pauses, and gasping at night. It reduces the quality of sleep and increases the risk of infarction by 30%.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, people with sleep apnea are three times more prone to developing hypertension than those who don’t have it. Sleep apnea also affects heart rate variability, which might increase the chances of infarction in patients with CVD.

How Much Sleep is Required for Heart Health?

Though individual sleep needs may vary, experts recommend adults to get seven to nine hours of sleep every day. Children and teenagers require more sleep to support their physical and mental development.