As sleepless nights add up, so does the harm to your heart. Chronic sleep deprivation contributes to inflammation throughout your body, high cholesterol and high blood pressure—all risk factors for heart disease.
The effects may start as early as your teen years. By adulthood, the danger is significant, according to a 10 year study in the journal Sleep. People who regularly sleep less than six hours per night have a 23 percent increased risk for heart disease than people who sleep more. And if their sleep is also poor quality, their risk is 80 percent greater.
Improve both the quality and quantity of sleep by upgrading your bedroom. Get rid of TV and computer screens and keep things quiet, cool and dark. And head there at the same time, even on the weekends. A regular sleep schedule helps ensure you get enough rest.
Source: Good Neighbor Pharmacy Connection, February 2013
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