Your heart never stops. Sleep is the time when it can rest, regenerate, and prepare for the next day.
When sleep is poor or short, your heart works harder and your risk of issues grows.
Science shows strong links between sleep and heart health.
Studies show both short sleep (less than seven hours) and long sleep (over nine hours) raise cardiovascular risk.
That risk includes heart attacks, strokes, and early death. The safest range is about seven to eight hours per night.
A European Society of Cardiology study of 90'000 adults found people who missed sleep during the week but added time on weekends had 19 percent lower risk of heart disease.
That shows short sleep creates damage but taking time to recover can help your heart.
Check your blood pressure at home at least twice a week. Keeping track shows what works.
You might find that walks or meals make a bigger difference than you expect.
Consistency matters too. A UK Biobank study tracking over 60 000 people found those with steady sleep schedules had 20 percent to 48 percent lower risk of death, including from heart disease, than people with erratic sleep.
It shows sleep timing is as important as duration.
Poor sleep triggers stress hormones like cortisol. It raises blood pressure and inflammation.
It worsens insulin resistance and fat balance. It strains your arteries and heart rhythm.
Decent sleep is one of the most powerful things you can do for your heart. No pills. It means your heart rests, your vessels repair, and your stress level drops. Over time this reduces risk of heart attack, stroke and early death.
