As of: March 29, 2024, 6:30 a.m
By: Andreas Beez
Comments
Press
Split
Private lecturer Dr. Keti Vitanova is deputy director of the Clinic for Cardiac and Vascular Surgery at the German Heart Center in Munich. © Dr. Elda Dzilic/German Heart Center
Dangers for the heart, brain and blood vessels lurk during sleep. Here, a top Munich doctor explains four chain reactions that can have fatal consequences.
If you sleep too little or too much, you increase your risk of cardiovascular disease - and vice versa: if you sleep enough and well, you reduce your susceptibility to a health disaster such as a heart attack, aortic aneurysm or stroke. This is pointed out by private lecturer Dr. Keti Vitanova. “We know from numerous studies that inadequate sleep increases the likelihood of developing or even dying from cardiovascular disease. In addition, the risk of depression, dementia and obesity increases,” says the deputy director of the Clinic for Cardiac and Vascular Surgery at the German Heart Center in Munich.
Patients in the hospital with heart disease sleep better if they have been visited by their relatives beforehand. This has emerged in a study.
Private lecturer Dr. Keti Vitanova, cardiac surgeon and deputy director of the Clinic for Cardiac and Vascular Surgery at the German Heart Center in Munich
Private lecturer Dr. Keti Vitanova: Too little and too much sleep are bad for the heart
“Too much sleep – more precisely, more than ten hours – is also damaging to heart health,” the heart specialist continued. Seven to nine hours of sleep is considered optimal. For children, bed rest may be longer depending on their age. Four essential chain reactions in the body play a role:
Danger number 1: The bad influence on blood pressure
Poor sleep puts the body under stress and can increase blood pressure. © Milkos/PantherMedia
“Lack of sleep can increase blood pressure,” warns Vitanova. High blood pressure, technically known as hypertension, is one of the so-called silent killers. It increases the risk of vascular diseases with fatal consequences such as heart attack or stroke. Blood pressure usually reaches its lowest values between two and three o'clock. A first peak occurs in the morning between eight and nine o'clock, a drop in values is observed shortly after noon and a second peak occurs late in the afternoon between 4 and 6 p.m. During the night hours, blood pressure should drop significantly.
Danger number 2: inflammatory processes that fuel heart disease
“Inadequate sleep can lead to increased levels of inflammation in the body. These in turn are associated with heart disease,” reports the heart surgeon from the German Heart Center in Munich.
My news
Quake in the construction industry: Read the bankruptcy of a large German real estate company
Shooting down of F-16 fighter jets: Putin threatens to attack NATO airfields read
Nasty scam with the Rosenheim cops: Actors pack with atrocities read out in their name
Silent holiday before Easter – What are you allowed to do on Good Friday in Bavaria? read
Cheese recall: Federal Office warns of health risks – according to the RKI, three groups are particularly susceptible to focus reading
She had planned Gottschalk's visit to BR completely differently: Schöneberger lost his composure
Danger number 3: Higher risk of diabetes or worse blood sugar levels
“Lack of sleep can affect glucose metabolism and increase the risk of diabetes,” says Vitanova. Diabetes is the medical term for diabetes. If a patient already has diabetes, lack of sleep can cause blood sugar levels to rise. “Too much sleep can also have an adverse effect on glucose metabolism and thus increase the risk of diabetes. “Diabetes is a very big risk factor for cardiovascular disease, especially in combination with other underlying diseases such as high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol levels,” says heart specialist Vitanova.
Analyzes scientific evaluations: cardiac surgeon, private lecturer Dr. Keti Vitanova has published numerous research papers. © Dr. Elda Dzilic/German Heart Center Munich
Danger number 4: Lack of sleep stimulates the release of stress hormones
If you toss and turn awake in bed or only get a few hours of sleep per night, you are putting your organism under stress. “For example, the body releases the stress hormone cortisol. Among other things, this increases blood pressure,” explains Vitanova.
Tips for a good night's sleep
Here Dr. Keti Vitanova eight tips on what you can do yourself to improve your sleep:
1. Try to get up and go to bed at the same time every day - even on weekends. This will help you stabilize your biorhythm.
2. Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet. It's best to leave your cell phone in another room.
3. Put your phone or tablet aside at least an hour before bed. or turn off your laptop or computer. These devices work with blue-wave light, which can affect sleep.
You should put your cell phone and/or tablet aside at least an hour before going to bed. © Bernd Weißbrod/dpa
4. Stop drinking coffee or smoking a few hours before going to sleep. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that can disrupt sleep.
5. Exercise regularly, but avoid exercising until just before bed. This can have a stimulating effect and make it difficult to fall asleep.
6. Make relaxation exercises part of your evening routine. Meditation, simple breathing exercises or stretching will help you fall asleep easier.
7. Don't fill your stomach just before falling asleep. This can cause digestive and sleep problems. Easily digestible snacks are better in the evening.
8. If you have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, get professional help. This is not a sign of weakness, but a smart and valuable investment in your health. A doctor or sleep specialist can work with you to uncover possible causes of your poor sleep and advise you on how to get your problem under control.