The link between cardiovascular health and sleep is beyond compelling and is probably the most researched topic related to sleep health. This has taken on greater meaning as studies show the cardiovascular health of all age groups is declining. Recently, the American Heart Association added Sleep Health to its 'Essential 8'--a collection of the meaningful steps individuals can take to improve their cardiovascular health and outcomes. But what constitutes the relationship between sleep health and cardiovascular health?  In this episode, we will:

• Introduce the American Heart Association's Essential 8, and how sleep health not only factors into the list, but directly affects the other seven items.
• Trace the long history of sleep being associated with coronary artery disease.
• Explore the relationship between sleep and stroke risk
• Understand the mechanisms of increased atherosclerotic plaque burden in people getting inadequate sleep
• Learn about the relationship between inadequate sleep and  elevated blood pressure/"non-dipping," and how sleep extension may improve those measurements
• Characterize the increased risk or arrhythmias in patients with sleep=related breathing disorders and their underlying mechanisms
• Probe the link between inadequate sleep and systemic inflammation and how these changes can be permanent
• Touch upon the topic of poor sleep and impaired glucose homeostasis
• Conclude with looking at the confusing relationship between insomnia and cardiovascular disease

Produced by: Maeve Winter

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• The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child

Thanks for listening and sleep well!