New Delhi: Poor sleep or sleep deprivation is generally dangerous to the overall health of both men and women, but it has more significant negative implications for women for various reasons. In general, studies have shown that sleep quality and quantity are poor in females. This is due to two major life changes in female physiology – during pregnancy and menopause – where sleep quality and quantity see a huge decline in most women.
In an interaction with News9Live, Dr. Sunil Dwivedi, Consultant – Cardiology, Manipal Hospital Millers Road, explained how lack of sleep affects women.
How Does Poor Sleep Impact Women’s Heart Health?
During pregnancy, weight gain and hormonal changes occur, and as a result, the sympathetic system becomes overexcited. This can lead to various conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, insomnia, and inflammation. Blood pressure can also rise during this time and a prothrombotic state can develop. This can increase the risk of hypertension, rhythm disorders, and clotting – warning signs of heart trouble or stroke, thereby potentially impacting women’s heart health.
Similar experiences are observed during the menopausal state as women tend to gain weight and hormonal protection against heart disease decreases. Reduced sleep quality during this period can cause physical and mental exertion, exhaustion as well as sympathetic stimulation, leading to a higher likelihood of developing hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and metabolic disorders like diabetes and dyslipidemia.
Restless leg syndrome, mental depression, and anxiety are also more common in women, especially during pregnancy and menopause, contributing to irregular sleep patterns. These factors not only impact overall through poor sleep but also independently exert a negative influence on the metabolic, endocrine, sympathetic, and parasympathetic systems. This can lead to more trouble as far as the cardiovascular system and the metabolic system is concerned.
Addressing Poor Sleep Patterns:
To address irregular sleep patterns jeopardizing heart health, it’s important to first recognize the risk factors before putting any action in place. Monitor conventional risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Regular exercise, a proper diet, and meditation are very important for improving sleep quality and preventing these related health issues. In addition, maintain a healthy weight, both during pregnancy and menopause.
Talking about heart diseases in women, Dr. Sunil Dwivedi from Manipal Hospitals said that insomnia is one of the key factors responsible. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
