Sleep Disorder’s Correlation with Heart Health:
According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States. With this daunting statistic, much focus is placed on researching risk factors, prevention, and the correlation of underlying disease process as it relates to the heart. Hypertension (high blood pressure) alone is the number one risk factor for heart disease and according to the CDC, only 24% of Americans with hypertension have it under control. Our heart works day and night and it is imperative it be taken care of. More research and knowledge become available on how the body systems work together and how if one system is off it could be because a different issue is occurring within the body. In the recent years, more information has become available on underlying sleep disorders and their role on one’s overall health. It has been noticed by John Hopkins that the COVID 19 pandemic has played a much larger role on our overall health and the damage it can cause to the lungs, heart, and brain. Such a vital organ, in particular the heart, it is imperative we look at all components to keep it functioning at its best. A journal article written by Bhat and Chokroverty and published by Sleep Med, discusses the increase of factors such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and psychological distress that are large, contributing factors to increased sleep issues, especially insomnia. According to the CDC, insomnia is linked to high blood pressure. The continuous wear on our heart from the persistent high blood pressure, potentially caused by the underlying sleep disorder, wreaks havoc on our overall health. If you, your patient, or someone you know are having persistent issues due to a potential long hauler from COVID or other underlying issues, a referral for a sleep study is best to investigate what is contributing to your connected health processes.
If you have questions, talk with your health care provider or call (641) 332-3838 to discuss with our GCH Respiratory Therapist.