A recent study published in the journal Circulation has found that sleeping less than seven hours a day and waking up very early or staying up all night can increase a person's risk of stroke, heart attacks, and myocardial infarction in the future. According to a report published on The Health Site, not giving the body the required amount of rest each night leads to decreased productivity and makes a person more susceptible to serious and life-threatening heart diseases. Sleep deprivation is a major health issue that can have severe effects on heart health.
According to the World Health Organization, research has shown that lack of sleep is linked to a range of cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, and stroke. Dr. Deman Chaudhry, a cardiologist at Bellevue Hospitals in Kolkata, states that "there is a close correlation between sleep disturbances and heart disease. Lack of sleep (at least 7 hours daily) can raise blood pressure and lead to poor dietary habits with more carbohydrates and sugars, worsening pre-diabetes symptoms and cholesterol, which in turn can increase the chances of a heart attack and stroke."
Dr. Soumen Bhattacharya, a cardiology specialist at Zenith Hospitals in Kolkata, explained that "lack of sleep is likely to negatively affect heart health through a range of mechanisms, such as increased sympathetic nervous system activity, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and increased systemic inflammation." Poor sleep habits are linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, meaning that when a person does not sleep well, they are effectively ensuring that their body suffers from the effects of high blood pressure. The body also experiences insulin resistance. Simply put, the impact of sleep deprivation can be explained this way: "When a person does not get enough sleep, their body produces more stress hormones that constrict blood vessels and raise blood pressure."
When the heart does not have the right environment to function, it can lead to chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormonal imbalances within the arteries, ultimately damaging the cardiovascular system and potentially leading to death. In addition to weight gain, lack of sleep can affect how the body processes glucose and insulin, the hormones that regulate blood sugar levels. Therefore, a person who does not sleep well is at risk of blood sugar fluctuations, making them susceptible to heart failure.
In a 2023 study to understand the relationship between diabetes and sleep deprivation, experts stated that lack of sleep can lead to insulin resistance, meaning that the body’s cells do not respond well to insulin and cannot use glucose effectively. Insulin resistance can cause type 2 diabetes, a condition that increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
