Can Sleep Help Protect Against Heart Disease?

When you wake in the morning and feel tired or sluggish, it is likely because you did not have a restful night’s sleep. Whether interrupted by a crying baby, a dog that is having difficulty getting comfortable, or needing to go to the bathroom, this break in your sleep cycle can negatively impact your ability to function the following day. But does it only impact your functionality? Can inadequate sleep also affect one of the body’s main organs? To find out, listen to a sleep dentist who explains why ensuring adequate rest is vital to preventing heart disease.

How Ample Sleep Can Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

Researchers who participated in a study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recently found that an anti-inflammatory mechanism between the brain, bone marrow, and blood vessels can protect against a hardening of the arteries when healthy sleep is achieved. Because this mechanism is controlled by how well a person is resting, it can easily break down if the individual is frequently disrupted while sleeping.

By studying a group of mice that were genetically engineered to develop atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), researchers divided the group in half, disrupting the sleep of some and leaving the others alone to sleep normally. The mice whose sleep was disrupted went on to develop lesions, plaque, and fatty deposits on their arteries. They also produced inflammatory cells in their cardiovascular system as well as a lower amount of the hormone, hypocretin, that helps to regulate sleep.

Even if you take additional steps to take care of your heart, what can you do to achieve more adequate rest?

How Can a Sleep Dentist Help?

According to years of dedicated research, heart disease is the number one cause of death among men and women in the United States. Heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and other cardiovascular diseases are rampant as obesity rates skyrocket and individuals attempt to function on less sleep day-in and day-out. While many doctors suggest healthier lifestyle changes (i.e. eating right, exercising), it is adequate rest that is often left without a remedy. That is unless you see a sleep dentist.

If you have sleep apnea, prepare to rejoice. Dentists who specialize in this particular area can offer resources and treatment designed to help you get the sleep you need. From the use of a CPAP machine to wearing an oral appliance, these mechanisms make it possible to achieve a better quality of life by improving sleep patterns.

The time is now to speak to your dentist about sleep apnea. If you feel you are experiencing many of the symptoms associated with this common condition, don’t wait to seek help. Find a sleep dentist near you who can provide the treatment you need to improve your health and wellbeing.

About the Author
Dr. Shelley Shults wants you to receive the care you need. As a board-certified registered nurse, general dentist, family nurse practitioner, and dental sleep medicine practitioner, Dr. Shults graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. In 2001, she graduated from The Ohio State University with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. She then received her MATRx certification in sleep apnea in 2013. She understands the important role sleep can play on the rest of your health, which is why she is happy to answer your questions and address your concerns on ways to improve your rest and ultimately, your wellbeing. To learn more, contact us at (614) 396-9310.