One of the best ways to protect your heart and your health is to sleep well at night.
Just because your body is able to operate on six to seven hours, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily healthy for you to do so.
Sleep is essential for the performance of your body and the effect that sleep has on your heart.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Helpguide.org share guidance on how to maintain a happy and healthy heart.
Quality and Quantity
According to the CDC, the average adult needs at least seven hours of sleep each night. More than one in three American adults said they don’t get the recommended amount.
Adults who sleep less than seven hours each night are more likely to say they have other health problems. Health problems associated with sleep issues are high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
You may not feel the effects of lack of sleep instantly, but over time, not getting good sleep will hurt your heart health.
Lack of sleep can also affect your mental and physical health. According to Healthguide.org, sleep impacts productivity, emotional balance, immune function and even your weight.
Sleep Deprivation
Do you find yourself yawning through the day, clinging to a few cups of coffee to make it through work? You may think it’s common for everyone, but the truth is you may not realize how sleep deprived you are. Signs of sleep deprivation are less obvious than you may think. If you are wondering if you are sleep deprived, here are some signs according to Helpguide.org:
• You need an alarm clock to wake up on time.
• You have a hard time getting out of the bed in the morning.
• You feel sluggish in the afternoon.
• You get sleepy in lectures, meetings or warm rooms.
• You get drowsy after heavy meals or while driving.
• You need to nap to get through the day.
Getting better sleep
The CDC shares tips on how to get better good quality sleep:
• Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.
• Get enough natural light, especially earlier in the day. Try going for a morning or lunchtime walk.
• Get enough physical activity during the day, but don’t exercise within a few hours of bedtime.
• Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet.
Applying these tips will help you get better sleep.