In addition to adverse effects on the brain and well-being, lack of sleep could put people at greater risk of heart disease. Too much sleep, too little sleep, or poor quality sleep are all associated with high levels of calcium in the coronary arteries and arterial stiffness.
Previous studies have already shown that sleeping too much, or not enough, is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the connection between the two is not yet fully understood.
To learn more, a team of researchers from Seoul University School of Medicine, South Korea, conducted a study on people’s cardiovascular health and their quality of sleep.
The researchers followed 47,309 adults. The participants completed a questionnaire on the number of hours of sleep and the quality of their night. Then, each participant underwent a health exam to measure calcium levels in their coronary arteries and assess their arterial stiffness (two subclinical measures to screen for heart disease.)
Their results show a link between lack of sleep and a high level of calcium in the coronary arteries. Participants who slept an average of 5 hours or less per day had 50% more calcium in their coronary arteries than those who slept 7 hours or more per night. Calcium levels were 70% higher in those who overslept (9 hours or more) and 20% higher in those who reported poor sleep quality.
The researchers speculate that this link is due to many mechanisms. Lack of sleep is linked to many health problems. cardiovascular health including excessively high blood pressure and impaired glucose metabolism. While they admit their results are limited because they were obtained through self-reports by participants, the researchers still insist that their findings serve as a reminder of the important role sleep plays in cardiovascular health.
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