Second Nature Care Blog

Poor Sleep Connected to Cardiovascular Disease - I.V. Ozone and Natural Cardio Support

[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 17, 2019 6:14:56 PM / by Winter Ninivaggi

Sleep is a key factor for a healthy heart. 

Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 31 percent of all deaths worldwide. It is the number one killer in the world according to WHO. The main risk factors are lifestyle choices like a bad diet, smoking, lack of exercise. Recently, poor sleep has been added to the mix. While this has gone fairly unstudied in the past, researchers at Harvard found the chemical chain reaction that links disrupted sleep and cardiovascular disease.  

This study adds to the entire body of research that documents how important it is to get a good night's sleep. Studies have linked poor sleeping patterns to increased risks of Alzheimer's, obesity and even depression and loneliness. Lack of sleep can also intensify pain. 

It might not be that surprising then that poor sleepers seem more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, but exactly how it happens was the focus of the new study. 

The research team focused on atherosclerosis in particular. Atherosclerosis is when the arteries become harder and inflamed in response to the build up of fatty plaques. This becomes worse when the immune system sends white blood cells in because they get caught up in the plaques only enlarging them.  As plaques grow, blood flow decreases increasing the chance for blood clots and clogged arteries that may lead to heart attacks or strokes. 

The team found the mechanism that appeared to be causing the problem.  Poor sleep appears to reduce the levels of protein called hypocretin which is produced in the hypothalamus. This is the part of the brain that controls sleep patterns.  Low levels of hypocretin, in turn, lead to higher levels of a protein called colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), which ramps up white blood cell production. Interestingly, when the team gave the sleep-deprived mice supplements of hypocretin, the atherosclerosis declined. (Irving, 2019)

"The role of hypocretin was certainly very, very shocking and unexpected to us," says Cameron McAlpine, first author of the study. "We really didn't know what to make of it initially. We had no idea we would find increasing white blood cells and this production could actually be regulated by sleep."

A good night's sleep can be closer then you think.

Simple changes can really effect not only how you feel about yourself, but how soundly you sleep.

Diet is very important. Avoid foods like sugar, alcohol, caffeine and excess fruits. (Avoiding sugar and will also make your skin healthier). Avoid the notorious gluten and other inflammatory foods. Be careful not to eat too late either. Adequate exercise will also aid in the quality your night's sleep, but do not over or under do it.  Changing your diet and exercise routine will make you feel healthier and better about yourself. Try aerobics - they have the added benefit of easing anxiety. 

Try new things. Meditation and breathing exercises will help to calm a restless mind. Find what works for you. Loving yourself, getting to the root of your insomnia and finding healthy effective ways to treat it will be the best thing you can do for yourself. Let's face it, insomnia takes a huge toll on your daily life. Giving yourself the sleep of your dreams will change your life. 

If you think that mental unrest and excessive stress are just part of life and you are having trouble sleeping visit Dr. Guggenheim at Second Nature Care. She will spend the time to understand the root cause of your insomnia and/or anxiety and find the best treatment and lifestyle changes for you. 

Book Consult
Insomnia and Brain Atrophy
Balance and Cardiovascular Disease
Insomnia in Gluten Sensitive and Celiac
 
 
Irving, M. (2019, March 20). Harvard scientists uncover how poor sleep leads to cardiovascular disease. Retrieved from https://newatlas.com/poor-sleep-heart-disease/58939/
Winter Ninivaggi

Written by Winter Ninivaggi

Isadora Guggenheim, ND, FNP, RN, MS, CNS, LMT, owner of Second Nature Naturopathic Care, LLC
For all appointments: Tel: 845 358-8385 Fax: 845 358-2963 drguggenheim@msn.com