The Link Between Sleep And Heart
In a joint statement from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology published in August 2008, the link between sleep and heart health, and the need for greater integration were explicitly recognized. In particular, the statement emphasized that:
“In the context of the current epidemics of obesity, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure, the prevalence and consequences of both OSA [obstructive sleep apnea] and CSA [central sleep apnea] are likely to increase”, and that “Recognition that a multidisciplinary strategy is critical to appropriate evaluation of sleep-related disease and heightened interaction between specialists in cardiovascular and sleep medicine hold promise for future improved and integrated patient care.”
Key statistics:
- A study which followed the health of over 70,000 nurses over 10 years found that those who slept for an average of 5 hours per night had a 40% increase in the risk of developing heart disease compared to those who slept for 8 hours per night. 6 hours of sleep per night translated to an increased risk of 18%1.
- Sleep apnea is present in up to:
- 30% of hypertensive patients2;
- 80% of drug-resistant hypertensive patients3. In fact, the United States Joint National Committee lists sleep apnea first as an identifiable cause to consider in a hypertensive patient4;
- 50% of atrial fibrillation patients5;
- 50% of heart failure patients6;
- Sleep apnea increases the risks of:
- Hypertension by 7 fold7;
- Stroke by 2 fold8;
- Atrial fibrillation and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia by 4 fold9;
- Fatal cardiovascular events by almost 3 fold10.
- Studies suggest that even mild sleep apnea significantly raises the risk of developing hypertension and other cardiovascular disease11;
- Treatment for Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been shown to improve nocturnal blood pressure, lower the recurrence of atrial fibrillation and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events generally10, 11, 12;
- The Sleep Heart Health Study shows that restless legs syndrome (RLS) is associated with prevalent coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease. This association appears stronger in those with greater frequency or severity of RLS symptoms13.
References:
All references within this page can be provided upon request.