Irregular sleep patterns and the risk of heart attack in young adults
While, heart diseases now become more common in the younger ones and those between 25-40 years of age wherein erstwhile it happened among geriatrics. This has its reasons with the challenges of Gen Z such as heavy-packed agendas, academic pressure, overtime screen exposure, too many stimulants and continued alteration of circadian rhythms through shift work and travelling.
The relationship between sleep and heart health
Sleep is significant for tissue repair, restoration of hormonal balance, and cardio protection. All these mechanisms get disrupted if the sleep-wake cycle goes awry or if it follows an abnormal pattern of sleep. As a consequence, chronic deprivation of sleep or broken sleep increases risk for hypertension, obesity, and diabetes-all being the key precursors of heart diseases. It has also been found that the risk of heart attacks and other cardiac events is higher when the sleep patterns are disorganized.
How sleep loss harms cardiovascular health
Sleep loss impacts the heart in various ways:
Inflammation: Poor sleep triggers chronic inflammation, which causes blood vessels to be damaged, enhances the promotion of plaque formation and the risk of clotting and heart attack.Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability: Normal sleep leads to maintaining blood pressure, but abnormal sleep leads to failure to keep it intact and thus a strain on the heart.Metabolic dysregulation: Lack of sleep affects glucose metabolism, decreases the sensitivity to insulin, and increases the levels of stress hormones that make a person prone to diabetes and heart disease.Disrupted circadian rhythm : Changing the body's biological rhythm creates chronic stress directly opposite to the cardiovascular benefit.Sympathetic nervous system increased activity: Poor sleep time triggers the fight and the fight and response, which increases rate of heart, raises blood pressure, and is associated with inflammation.Practicing good sleeping behavior brings down the risks of having cardiovascular problems.Ensure similar sleep duration for every day during the week and also the weekend.Always try to optimize the sleep environment. Sleep in a dark, quiet, without screens room.Avoid consuming caffeine, nicotine, and heavy meals before bedtimeMaintain regular physical activityConsult a doctor if the sleep disorder continuesArmed with this knowledge on sleep and heart health, young adults, especially Gen Z, will be inspired to lead healthier lifestyles, protecting their hearts in the long run and keeping them healthy generally.
Dr Nimit C Shah, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, MBBS. MRCP (UK). MD (UK). CCT Cardiology (UK), Saifee Hospital, Mumbai
