Why uninterrupted slumber is good for your heart ...

People with obstructive sleep apnea are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, a new study suggests. People with obstructive sleep apnea experience multiple breathing interruptions while they sleep. This occurs when tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway.

The authors of the study, said there is mounting data indicating that the condition plays a potentially important, causative role in cardiovascular disease. “There is abundant evidence implicating obstructive sleep apnea in perpetuating, if not inciting, heart failure,” study co-author Dr. Sean M. Caples, of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, said in a prepared statement. So how does one treat this?

 Treating sleep disorders and getting adequate amounts of sleep are important factors in good cardiovascular health. Keep your bedroom free of clutter and make sure there isn’t any ambient noise or light spillover in the vicinity. Sleep apnea is a know risk factor for the development of hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Also, chronic sleep deprivation has been shown to change metabolic function in a way that promotes weight gain and diabetes. So this is why uninterrupted slumber is good for your heart.