A Cardiologist Says Sleep Issues & Heart Failure Are Related

Introduction

According to Medithics Clinic's cardiologist in Kolkata, sleep issues and heart failure are related.

For instance, heart failure can significantly disturb a person's sleep pattern. Similarly, sleep problems like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insomnia can make a person's symptoms of heart failure worse.

Heart Failure Causes Sleep Problems

Here are the following ways in which heart failure can affect your sleep –

Chest pain can cause discomfort and make it hard to relax and fall or stay asleep.
Lying in bed can cause shortness of breath.
A person may have to get up several times during the night to urinate.

During the day, when a person with a heart condition spends most of their time standing or sitting, the extra fluid usually settles in their legs and feet. However, when they lie down, the fluid moves up into their chest, closing the lungs and airways making it harder to breathe.

Cardiologists in Kolkata prescribe diuretics to get rid of that extra fluid. Diuretics or "water pills" help the kidneys get rid of excess water and salt. The downside to the medication is that it disrupts sleep. Diuretics do not stop working when a person sleeps, therefore interrupting their slumber for a trip or two to the bathroom.

Sleep Problems Lead to Heart Failure

OSA is a condition in which the tissue in the back of a person's throat relaxes and blocks the airway while they sleep. This causes them to stop breathing and the brain signals the throat muscles to contract and open up the airway again. The process occurs dozens or even hundreds of times in the night, causing severe sleep disruption.

During OSA episodes, the brain releases stress hormones that can raise the heart rate and blood pressure. Over time, increased blood pressure can heighten the chance of heart failure.

OSA is a common sleep problem among people who are obese. However, anyone can develop the condition.

Researchers suggest that trouble falling or staying asleep can cause heart failure. According to a heart specialist in Kolkata, one of the reasons may be that insomnia triggers the body's stress response, weakening the heart over time.

What You Can Do

The best way to prevent heart failure due to sleep problems is to get restful sleep every day, says the cardiologist in Kolkata. A good night's sleep helps increase energy levels, thinking skills, and overall heart health.

Here are some steps to prevent sleep problems –

Create a regular sleep/wake schedule and stick to it.
Turn off the screens before bedtime.
Keep the bedroom dark and cool.
Avoid caffeine in the evening and alcohol before bedtime.
Workout every morning.

If you have any sleep issues and experience any symptoms of heart conditions like shortness of breath or chest pain, consult Medithics Clinic's best heart doctor in Kolkata.