Quality and quantity matter
Both the right amount and quality of sleep play important roles in good health.
Sleep problems reduce the quality of life and can create and worsen other medical conditions. Sleep disorders often go undiagnosed and untreated, posing serious health risks. Of all the reasons to get a good night’s sleep, protecting the heart should be a top priority. Studies have shown that getting less than six hours of sleep a night increases the risk of heart disease by 48 percent and doubles the risk of stroke and heart attack. Sleeping too much also increases the risk of stroke by 65 percent.
“Those are not numbers to scoff about,” said Dr. Nabil Moufarrej, medical director at the Shreveport-based Neurology and Sleep Clinic. “People should take care of the quality as well as quantity of this sleep. Bragging that one can get away with little or no sleep is nothing to be proud of; neither is convincing yourself that it is good to be able to fall asleep anywhere and anytime.” Both may indicate a serious health issue and may damage your heart.
A common sleep disorder, sleep apnea, affects more than 40 million Americans.
Sleep apnea is a condition where the airway muscles relax, narrowing the airway to the point of collapse and causing a reduction of breathing and oxygen. The symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, restless sleep and daytime fatigue. Sleep disordered breathing is a cause of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Dr. Robert Martin, with Pierremont Cardiology, said, “Cardiologists have become more cognizant of sleep, its disorders and how it directly interfaces with heart health. This is especially true when it comes to issues such as sleep apnea that increases the incidence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.”
Dr. Basel Kasabali with Cardiovascular Consultants reiterates the same thought that, “The relationship between sleep disorders and cardiomyopathy is direct and can cause heart failure and early death.”
The best treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure, which works by using air to splint the airway open during sleep. Using a CPAP machine and wearing a CPAP mask require both a commitment and an understanding that it requires a period of habituation.
Moufarrej said, “Our professionals at the Sleep Clinic provide education, encouragement and adjustments to CPAP therapy in order to optimize comfort and increase usage.”
This specialized approach to treating sleep apnea is recognized as the best approach to achieve better outcomes by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “Because of this our patients have achieved compliance levels upward of 85 percent as compared to the national average of around 51 percent,” said Leah Reed, APRN-FNP, at the Sleep Clinic. “It is vital to establish and maintain regular communication and follow up visits to improve the likelihood of successful CPAP therapy.”
Local cardiologist Dr. Scott Wiggins with Ark-La-Tex Cardiology reiterates this. “Sleep disorders cause severe heart disease including heart attacks and arrhythmias,” Wiggins said. “It is not only important to identify and test for sleep disorders, but it is also crucial that they be managed in a professionally competent and comprehensive manner, ensuring the success and proper outcome of the treatment.”
Additionally, findings of the Sleep Heart Health Study suggest patients with restless leg syndrome are also at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Approximately 5-10 percent of the adult population suffer from RLS, which has been shown to double the risk of stroke and heart disease.
The treatment of this condition includes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies. A new FDA-approved device called the Relaxis system uses vibratory counter stimulation to relieve RLS and improve the quality of sleep.
While many sleep disorders may cause health problems, especially heart disease, it is also well-known that health and medical conditions may cause sleep problems. In many instances, acute health issues can lead to insomnia, and in some patients this may become the kindling that lights up the painful fire of chronic insomnia, leading many patients to become dependent on sleeping pills. Consequently, this triggers more health issues and it becomes a vicious cycle.
Moufarrej said, “At the Sleep Clinic, we understand this connection and treatment modalities are available to help people sleep better in a healthier and more natural way.”
Article provided by The Neurology and Sleep Clinic.
Learn more about Sleep apnea: For more information, contact 318-797-1585 or www.sleepcliniconline.net.
