Do you have insomnia? Why your heart health depends on getting a good night’s rest, and 5 expert tips to help you end sleepless nights
- High-quality sleep is known to be important to good health, and a review of recent studies shows just how vital proper rest is for maintaining heart health
- People with insomnia have a higher risk of death, heart attack and cardiovascular disease, the review found. A doctor and sleep coach offer tips for good sleep
We spend about a third of our lives asleep. And sleep is vital for overall health and well-being, as a time of recovery for the body and mind, says Cavan Chan, a Hong Kong-based sleep and functional medicine health coach.
During different phases of sleep, metabolic waste is removed, cells undergo repair and regrowth, and our memories are reorganised and consolidated.
“It is because of this restorative effect that sleep can be considered the foundation of wellness,” Chan says.
About 30 per cent of the world’s population is affected by insomnia – difficulty in falling or staying asleep, getting enough of it, or sleeping well. About 44 per cent of patients with heart disease experience this disorder, too, a study published this month in the journal PLoS One suggests.
