Sleep Quality Linked to Heart Disease Through Multiple Pathways

Quick fact: Poor sleep and sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea are linked to cardiovascular disease through a complex web of biological mechanisms.

Recent evidence reveals that both sleep quantity and quality are connected to cardiovascular health through multiple risk factors. Sleep problems are linked to hypertension, diabetes, and obesity—all of which increase heart disease risk. The relationship works both ways: obesity can disrupt sleep by increasing the likelihood of sleep disorders, which then further raises obesity risk in a troublesome cycle. The mechanisms behind these connections include inflammation, appetite control, hormone changes, and genetic processes that are all affected by poor sleep. Researchers emphasize that specific populations already at risk for both sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease need particular attention. Emerging lifestyle interventions are now incorporating sleep components to help manage cardiovascular risk factors more effectively.

Source: PMID 38084859 (Emerging topics in life sciences, 2023)