More Than a Number: Sleep Quality Is the Next Target for Cardiovascular Health
More Than a Number: Sleep Quality Is the Next Target for Cardiovascular Health
Published: July 22, 2025
Source: Medscape
Key Takeaways:
1. Sleep Duration Is Not Enough
• The American Heart Association (AHA) added sleep duration (7–9 hours) to its heart health checklist in 2022.
• But new research shows quality, consistency, and timing of sleep matter just as much.
2. Irregular Sleep Increases Heart Risk
• People with inconsistent sleep patterns have a higher risk of coronary artery calcium, a marker of heart disease.
• “Night owls” (evening chronotypes) may have signs of unhealthy heart remodeling.
3. Poor Sleep Affects Teens Too
• Short sleep in adolescents is linked to heart structure changes and liver fat, suggesting early health risks.
4. Sleep Health Is Multidimensional
• AHA’s updated definition includes:
• Sleep duration, timing, regularity
• Daytime functioning and satisfaction
• Ability to fall and stay asleep (continuity)
• Sleep stages (architecture)
5. Bad Sleep Harms Blood Vessels
• Sleep restriction causes oxidative stress and inflammation, damaging arteries and suppressing the immune system.
6. Ties Between Sleep and Eating Habits
• Irregular sleep affects when and what people eat, adding to cardiovascular risks.
7. Sleep = Modifiable Risk Factor
• Cardiologists should treat poor sleep like high blood pressure or cholesterol — a risk factor they can act on.
8. Start with a Simple Question
• Doctors should ask: “How’s your sleep?” to open meaningful conversations with patients.
9. Clinical Guidelines Still Needed
• The AHA statement doesn’t yet give treatment rules but encourages research on how improving sleep affects the heart.
10. Bottom Line:
• Sleep is not just a number — it’s the next major focus in preventing heart disease.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/more-than-a-number-sleep-quality-heart-2025