Protect Your Heart from Poor Sleep
When you think of doing something good for your heart, what comes to mind first?
Maybe your diet?
Or getting regular exercise?
Well, another VITAL factor should be at the forefront of your mind as well… sleep.
But simply clocking MORE hours in the sack isn’t the answer.
Here’s why…
Your body craves routine.
Not because it has a type A personality but because it has an internal clock called your circadian rhythm.
And getting regular, predictable sleep is a big factor in keeping that clock ticking on time.
Irregular bedtimes, erratic wake-up times, and a lack of consistency in the time spent sleeping don’t just make you feel groggy and wreck your mood. They also harm your HEART health.
In this latest study, scientists carefully crunched the data from 3,700 questionnaires.
Their work revealed that people with irregular sleep habits tend to have a higher body-mass index (BMI) and elevated blood pressure and glucose levels, than those with more regular sleep habits.
And, of course, all of these factors harm your heart health.
But there is a way you can reduce this negative impact. And surprisingly, it’s NOT by getting more sleep.
Instead, it’s by getting regular exercise.
The study revealed that regular exercise canceled out the connection between poor sleep and higher blood pressure, visceral fat, and fasting insulin levels.
In other words, regular exercise protects against the harmful cardiovascular effects of irregular sleep.
When you think about it, this makes sense since we already know that exercise improves blood flow, lowers blood pressure, reduces glucose levels, and promotes weight loss.
Of course, improving your sleep hygiene should still be a priority. But in the meantime, if your sleep habits leave much to be desired, add some exercise for extra protection.
P.S. Sleep soundly with THIS powerful ancient herb.
SOURCE:
Nauha L, Farrahi V, Jurvelin H, et al. Regularity of bedtime, wake-up time, and time in bed in mid-life: Associations with cardiometabolic health markers with adjustment for physical activity and sedentary time. J Activ Sedent Sleep Behav. 2024;3(1):2. doi:10.1186/s44167-023-00040-6
