February is American Heart Month, a great time to focus on how to help your heart stay healthy. One simple way is to make sure you get regular sleep.
Having a regular sleep schedule is important for everyone, but research shows it’s even more crucial if you are recovering from heart failure.
A study from Oregon Health and Science University found that patients with irregular sleep doubled their risk of experiencing an emergency room visit, hospitalization or even death within six months.
The study, published in JACC Advances, focused on 32 patients who had been hospitalized for acutely decompensated heart failure. Based on their sleep patterns, they were categorized as regular or moderately irregular sleepers.
What the Research Found
According to the study, irregular sleepers were twice as likely to experience a clinical event during the six-month time span. After being discharged from the hospital, 21 patients experienced a clinical event; of this number, 13 were classified as moderately irregular sleepers compared with eight classified as having a regular sleep schedule.
Researchers say these results strengthen the connection between sleep regularity and cardiovascular health.
“When we’re asleep and in a resting state, our blood pressure and heart rate decrease compared with daytime levels,” said lead author Brooke Shafer, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in the Sleep, Chronobiology and Health Laboratory in the OHSU School of Nursing. “Irregular sleep may contribute to adverse outcomes, especially for people already affected by heart failure.”
If sleep issues, such as snoring or sleep apnea, are keeping you up at night, Willamette ENT can help—schedule a visit with one of our providers today.
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