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Sleep Affects Heart Health

Sleep duration and quality may associate with negative cardiovascular outcomes.

Too short or long a sleep session, as well as poor quality of sleep, may have a negative effect on cardiovascular health. Previous studies have suggested that shorter sleep duration leads to hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system, glucose intolerance, increased cortisol levels, increased blood pressure, decreased variability in heart rate, disruption of the hypothalamic axis, and increased inflammation. Rohit Arora, from the Chicago Medical School (Illinois, USA) , and colleagues performed a retrospective analysis of data collected on 3000 men and women, ages 45 and up, enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2008. After adjusting for confounding factors, the researchers found that getting less than 6 hours of sleep each night associated with increased risk of heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke, as compared with getting 6 to 8 hours of sleep.  Further, sleeping more than 8 hours each night was associated with greater odds of coronary artery disease and angina.

Aggarwal S, et al. "Sleep patterns and prevalence of cardiovascular outcomes -- analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Database 2007-08" [Abstract 1185-325].  Presented at American College of Cardiology Scientific Session, March 27, 2012.

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