Sleep irregularities and atherosclerosis

Sleep problems are known to be associated with cardiovascular incidence, risk factors, and mortality. However, the link between sleep and atherosclerosis had never been assessed before. Focus on the results of a recent study ...

Previous studies on irregular sleep patterns have focused on populations with "extreme" patterns, such as night nurses and shift workers. However, more recent data have shown that even irregular sleep schedules in the general population are linked to cardiovascular disorders. A recent study published in the JAMA specifically studied atherosclerosis, the deposition of lipid plaques on artery walls, whose main complications are myocardial infarction or stroke.

The MESA study was a multisite, longitudinal, multiethnic cohort study that measured objective sleep data and measures of subclinical atherosclerosis in a wide variety of elderly individuals. A total of 2,032 participants were included in the analyses. Patients with large irregularities in sleep duration (>2 hours) and sleep schedule (>1.5 hours) displayed an overall higher risk of developing atherosclerosis than those with less irregular sleep patterns.

Quality sleep is a major factor in good health. Here are some simple resolutions to take: keep a regular sleep schedule, avoid exposure to screens 2 hours before going to bed, keep the temperature between 18 and 19 degrees in the bedroom, avoid eating just before going to bed, etc...