Chronic sleep loss increases the risk of heart attack and stroke

Research by Chinese scientists shows that people with frequent insomnia have a 27% increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Research shows that sleep loss can increase blood pressure and disrupt metabolism, two factors that contribute to heart disease. Women are at greater risk of heart disease than men, as they are more likely to suffer from sleep loss due to hormone-related issues.

Scientists have conducted 15 studies on more than 160,000 people. They assessed the relationship between insomnia symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep, poor sleep, waking up too early and feeling tired after waking up and cardiovascular disease, the world's leading killer. The results showed that people with insomnia have an 11% higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and people who feel tired and uncomfortable when waking up are 18%.

Previous studies have shown that insomnia causes negative health effects, but have not provided evidence of a link to heart disease. Photo: Getty Images.

The causes of insomnia are irregular living habits (drinking too much coffee, eating too much at night, etc.), living environment, stress, depression, alcoholism, age, etc.

A good and quality sleep needs to meet the time factor (about 19-20 hours for adults), the body is awake after waking up, refreshed, healthy, no longer feels tired, sleepy and no nightmares while sleeping.

According to experts, sleep is an essential need of the body, because sleeping time accounts for 1/3 of each person's life. While sleeping, the body secretes important hormones that support the metabolism process, accumulating the energy needed for all activities during the day. Sleep gives the brain, cardiovascular system, immune system and organs in the body time to rest and recover.

“Sleep disorders are very common in modern society. More and more people are complaining about insomnia. Educational measures are urgently needed to raise public awareness of the symptoms and potential risks,” said study author Qiao He.

What should I do to get a good night's sleep?

Relax before bed by taking a warm bath, listening to music, taking a light walk, meditating or doing yoga. These will relax your body and also help to remove toxins from your body.

You should not eat too much before going to bed. You can eat some low-protein, high-carbohydrate snacks such as fruit juice, cookies, etc. about an hour before going to bed. Do not use stimulants such as tea, cigarettes, coffee, alcohol in the evening.

Wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends and holidays.

The bedroom should be airy, quiet, with comfortable, clean bedding and soft lighting.

According to Zing