Cardiometabolic health may depend on sleep quality, duration, timing

Evan Walker
Evan Walker TheMediTary.Com |
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According to the American Heart Association (AHA), we should be paying closer attention to all the ways in which sleep can impact cardiometabolic health. Image credit: Laura Adani/Stocksy.
  • The American Heart Association (AHA) recently released a scientific statement urging a more thorough exploration of how sleep and cardiometabolic health are intertwined.
  • The AHA is concerned about how factors beyond a set number of sleep hours impact heart and metabolic health.
  • The AHA noted that factors such as sleep quality, timing, continuity, and demographic factors need to be addressed.

Getting enough sleep can be hard, especially when faced with life stressors, but it is important not only for physical health but mental health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that adults get at least 7 hours of sleep per night, but the AHA believes the scientific community needs to look beyond this.

In a new scientific statement, the American Heart Association (AHA) now outlines several areas researchers need to explore.

The scientific letter appears in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

One key aspect they noted is how often one wakes up at night after falling asleep. Waking up frequently through the night could indicate a physical issue, such as indigestion or bladder dysfunction.

The authors also encourage looking at how one’s sleep habits match up with the body’s circadian rhythms. This occurs over a 24-hour cycle and can influence sleep habits and energy levels.

If someone’s circadian rhythm is disrupted, this could lead to poor sleep and daytime sleepiness. Environmental factors such as light or using screens before bedtime can disrupt the circadian rhythm.

Another point the authors say is important is both how well-rested one feels after waking up and their alertness throughout the day. Sleep satisfaction, the regularity of sleep, and how someone feels about their daytime functioning help provide a more thorough look at sleep Health.

“Disparities in multidimensional sleep health also exist by socioeconomic position, including income, education, work status and position, and financial assets,” write the authors.

The authors noted that these people often reside in underserved areas and are likely to face discrimination which can contribute to sleep health disparities.

People in a lower SES bracket are also at a higher risk of environmental factors affecting sleep such as noise and air pollution.

The authors say that taking a multidimensional sleep health approach can both improve sleep and overall health. Sleep can influence both cardiovascular and metabolic health, which is why figuring out how this is all intertwined is so important.

Christopher Berg, MD, a board-certified cardiologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center, spoke with Medical News Today about the statement.

“The new AHA statement moves beyond the idea that ‘more sleep is better’ and introduces a more comprehensive view of what constitutes healthy sleep,” Berg commented.

“While duration remains important, this multidimensional model includes factors like when we sleep (timing), how consistently we sleep (regularity), how well we stay asleep (continuity), and how rested we feel during the day (daytime functioning). These additional aspects give us a fuller picture of how sleep influences heart and metabolic health – and why simply counting hours may not be enough.”

– Christopher Berg, MD

Berg said the AHA’s statement emphasizes the importance of focusing on aspects of improving sleep beyond pharmaceutical solutions.

“Improving sleep quality, timing, and regularity through behavioral strategies or environmental changes can enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies and may reduce the need for additional medications,” noted Berg.

Augusto Cesar Ferriera De Moraes, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at UTHealth Houston, not involved in the review, also spoke with MNT about its recommendations.

“Multidimensional sleep health should be prioritized in clinical settings,” said De Moraes. “By addressing these components, healthcare providers can better identify and manage risks associated with poor sleep, leading to more comprehensive patient care.”

De Moraes also made some recommendations for people who want to improve sleep quality, including:

  • maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends
  • creating a comfortable sleep environment — cool, dark, and quiet
  • limiting exposure to screens and bright lights before bedtime
  • engaging in regular physical activity but not too close to bedtime.

“Implementing these practices can enhance sleep quality, thereby supporting better heart and metabolic health,” De Moraes advised.

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