Healthy sleep patterns can reduce the risk

The five-year patterns in the study were determined by bedtime, sleep duration, sleep quality, and midday napping as well as polygenic risk scores for coronary heart disease and stroke.

The participants included people with complete sleep information at the baseline survey from 2008 to 2010 and the first follow-up survey in 2013. Subjects with no history of cardiovascular disease or cancer were prospectively assessed from 2013 to 2018. Scientists performed their statistical analysis in November 2023.

The authors pointed out cardiovascular disease “is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In 2019, cardiovascular deaths accounted for approximately one-third of all deaths globally, including more than 40% of deaths in China.

The researchers also said that as the cardiovascular disease burden keeps rising in nearly every country, research identifying modifiable risk factors for prevention of serious heart disease is urgent.

The team acknowledged previous studies have shown an association of sleep with cardiovascular health.

However, the researchers said most of those studies used only a single measurement, which might not adequately reflect the association of overall sleep with cardiovascular disease as sleep habits may change over time.

Researchers cited one study of 9,309 participants living in Europe that indicated that maintaining healthy sleep patterns over a 2-year to 5-year period was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease but not stroke.

However, they noted that the research looked at people in midlife who typically adjusted their sleep patterns around work schedules.

The study authors noted that more research on older, retired people with more natural sleep patterns is still necessary.

The researchers added that lifestyle and genetic factors are also associated with cardiovascular disease, and previous research has shown people with healthy lifestyles had a lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, even among those at high genetic risk.

“To fill the evidence gap, we collected sleep information at two time points approximately five years apart and prospectively explored the long-term outcomes of changes in sleep patterns on the subsequent incidence of [cardiovascular disease] outcomes among middle-aged and older Chinese retirees,” the study authors wrote. “We further investigated how the five-year changes in sleep patterns interact and combine with [cardiovascular disease]-related genetic variants for the risk of [cardiovascular disease] outcome.”

Chelsey Borson, a sleep expert and founder of baby sleep consulting service Luna Leaps who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today that sleep has profound impacts on overall health, including heart health.

“The link between adequate sleep and heart health is increasingly recognized as vital. Sleep serves as a period of recovery and repair for the heart, reducing stress and inflammation, major risk factors for heart disease,” Borson explained. “It’s not an entirely new idea, but the depth of understanding has deepened significantly in recent years as research has advanced.”

Borson said studies show people getting fewer than seven hours of sleep per night tend to have higher risks of developing cardiovascular issues such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction, which “underscores sleep’s role in regulating blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiovascular stability.”

“It is crucial to go to bed and wake up simultaneously every day to synchronize your body’s internal clock. Creating a bedtime routine that includes winding down activities, like reading or meditation, can also promote better sleep,” Borson said.

“Limiting exposure to screens and bright lights in the evening is another effective strategy, as it helps maintain the natural production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep,” she added.

Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, a consultant cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today that adequate sleep allows the body to rest and repair itself as well as “regulating hormones that influence blood pressure, inflammation, and blood sugar levels, all of which are critically important for heart health.”

“You can improve sleep by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule,” Tadwalkar said. “Consistency is key. Going to bed and waking up at the same times daily, including on the weekends, contributes to regulating your internal clock, resulting in enhanced sleep quality. If necessary, resist the temptation to oversleep by more than an hour beyond your regular waking time, as this practice supports the stability of your sleep patterns.”

Tadwalkar said people having trouble with sleep should rethink pre-sleep activities and avoid stimulating pursuits such as screen time before bedtime.

“Instead, embrace calming rituals such as reading a book, or practicing relaxation techniques to signal to your body that it’s time to wind down,” he said. “Keep the room cool, dark, and quiet to enhance the sleep environment. Get rid of noise and light sources to the greatest extent possible and tweak the temperature to create an ideal setting for a peaceful night’s sleep.”

Tadwalkar said if sleep difficulties persist, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional for further evaluation and personalized advice.

“They can assist in identifying any underlying causes of sleep problems and recommend the most appropriate treatment options,” he said. “Particularly, consider seeking help from a sleep medicine doctor, who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. Sleep medicine doctors have the expertise to conduct specialized tests, develop tailored treatment plans, and provide guidance for long-term sleep health.”