With today's fast paced lifestyle, our poor sleeping environments (too much light and/or noise) and sleep disorders are causing people to lose sleep nightly. Most people are aware of the emotional effects of lack of sleep (feeling irritable, lack of patience, low energy levels and overall stressed out), but did you know that not getting enough or quality sleep can put you at increased risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure) which ultimately puts a strain on your cardiovascular system. The results of a recent study showed that individuals followed for a five year period, of those with sleep pattern disturbances, for each hour less sleep there was a 37% higher probability of developing high blood pressure. During sleep the heart rate and blood pressure decrease. When there is a pattern of sleep deprivation, there is a raise in the average blood pressure over a 24 hour period. This puts a strain on the overall cardiovascular system causing it to operate at an elevated state, leaving you also at risk for heart disease. So the next time someone tells you it is fine to skip getting a restful night sleep…think of your heart and be kind to it…you do only have one.
Adequate sleep also affects your state of mental health. Too little could cause an alarming trigger of a mental condition. Too much can indicate one, too, such as depression.
When I began seriously addressing my mental health, I took the tv out of the bedroom and I changed the colors to a more peaceful, subtle colors to enhance sleep/relaxation. Reportedly, a person should get at least 6 - 8 hours of sleep per 24-hour period.
Thanks for sharing and it's good to know I'm looking out for my heart now, too.
Thursday, June 18th 2009 at 11:25PM
agnes levine
