Sleep well protects the heart
In addition to maintaining a healthy diet and moderate exercise routine, sleep can also help you maintain a healthy heart. Recent discoveries that speak of common sleep problems may be related to the risk of heart problems. Here we tell you more about this finding.
If you love to sleep and stay a while in bed, here is a discovery that gives you a good excuse to revel in the sheets, because the common sleep problems may be related to factors dangerous for the heart.
This does not mean that more sleep is good for the heart. At the contrary, do not sleep much the same as sleep. For example, people who snore loudly do not rest properly.
Other times seems to be nothing strange in the middle of the night while we slept, but when we get up we are tired, as if we had not slept. Have you ever tried? If this happens frequently, you may have a sleep problem.
Of course, who can not sleep or find it hard to sleep because they suffer from insomnia, it is clear that they have problems to rest.
Considering these characteristics, a group of researchers coordinated by Wendy M. Troxel, assistant professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, U.S., looked at nearly a thousand adults aged 45 to 74 years old, for three years. So, found that those with one or more of these sleep problems were more likely to develop what is called metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome, also known as syndrome X, is a group of factors that increase our risk of developing heart disease or diabetes.
While not all doctors agree with the definition or the cause of this syndrome, it is considered that a person has metabolic syndrome when presented at least three of these five factors (related to obesity):
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
- Increased levels of sugar or glucose in the blood
- Elevated triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood
Low levels of “good” cholesterol in the blood known as HDL (High Density Lipoprotein).
Excess fat in the waist area (so-called “central obesity”). It is also said that the person has the body in “apple shape.”
The more of these risk factors you have, the higher your risk of heart disease, even if your total cholesterol level is normal. Of course, other risk factors for your heart may be:
- Age and aging.
- Genetic predisposition or inheritance (ie, have genes that make them more likely to suffer from this condition).
- Hormonal changes.
- Lack of exercise.
Fortunately, to prevent and control most of these factors, we can do several things. With only change certain habits and customs can help you get better and have a stronger heart. For example, it is a good idea:
- Eating a diet low in fat, with a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and if possible include fatty fish at least twice a week.
- Make at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days (walking, for example, that’s enough).
- Lose weight.
- Controlling blood pressure and blood sugar level.
- Do not smoke.
Now we also know that these activities can add the rest well or sleep well.
Anyway, if you know you belong to risk group, better sleep may not be enough. It is important to visit your doctor to clear all your doubts and you receive the right treatment for you and your heart. So yes, to sleep in peace.
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