The Hidden Trigger of Heart Disease (SCARY!)
Some risk factors for heart disease are obvious… like high blood pressure, obesity, and smoking.
Others aren’t as obvious.
In fact, they’re not even on most doctors’ radar… which means they’re not warning their patients about the risks.
And that could be a BIG problem… especially for the 40-70 percent of older people who suffer from this condition.
The good news is that you can fix it… and reduce your risk of heart failure in the process.
A study published by the American Heart Association analyzed data from more than 400,000 people aged 37 to 73. They wanted to see if there was a connection between sleep patterns and the risk of heart failure.
Heart failure means that your heart isn’t pumping enough blood to meet your body’s needs.
It turns out that people with the healthiest sleep patterns had a 42 percent lower risk of heart failure.
What constitutes healthy sleep? According to this study, it involves these factors:
- Being an early riser
- Getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night
- Not suffering from insomnia, snoring, or daytime sleepiness.
Breaking it down even further, the risk of heart failure was…
- 8 percent lower in early risers
- 12 percent lower in people who slept 7-8 hours
- 17 percent lower in people who didn’t suffer from insomnia
- 34 percent lower in people who didn’t experience daytime sleepiness
Most sleep studies I come across focus just on the amount of sleep you get. I’m glad this one factored in WHEN you’re sleeping as well.
Rising early in the morning—preferably with the sun—sets your circadian rhythm for the day, which is an essential factor for countless processes in your body.
And, as studies have shown, not getting adequate sleep has been tied to mental and physical health conditions.
Do yourself—and your heart—a favor by practicing good sleep hygiene (like sleeping in a dark room and not having any electronics in your room).
Why not start tonight?
