Why one should focus more on sleep while suffering from hypertension
Topics: Sleep Apnea, Insomnia, cpap
Do you have high blood pressure (hypertension)? Well, you should pay some special attention to the quality of your sleep. However, there is no direct link associated between sleep and hypertension and the reason remains unclear to some extent. Lack of sleep or sleep deprivation can lead to higher blood pressure or it can become worse. Sleeping lesser than seven hours per night increases the risk of developing hypertension. Moreover, if you have already developed hypertension, poor sleep quality might affect it. While considering the dietary changes to slow down the levels of your hypertension is essential, one should focus on their sleep duration and quality to provide wholesome care to cure their disease.
Sleep Problems that Affect Blood Pressure
There are several types of sleep problems that can cause higher blood sugar levels or make it harder to control them. The most common sleep issues that can affect blood pressure levels:
- Insomnia: the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and get restorative sleep may contribute to hypertension
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Intermittent episodes of stopped breathing while sleeping can be correlated with higher blood sugar levels.
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS): This might also emerge as an underlying health issue, however, there is no direct connection yet found.
The association between insomnia, hypertension, and RLS remains unproven. But if you are diagnosed with both hypertension and OSA, or you are experiencing sleep deprivation, you can take steps to address these underlying issues which can help you control your hypertension better.
Sleep Apnea and High Blood Pressure
Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the soft tissues present at the back of the throat tend to relax causing blockage in the airways while sleeping. There are claims that these pauses in nighttime oxygen might activate the fight or flight mechanism which can lead to higher blood pressure. However, the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines can improve Sleep Apnea might also contribute to the improvement of hypertension. Therefore, if you have both Sleep Apnea and hypertension you should opt for the treatment plan for improving your OSA, as this might have a positive impact on your hypertension.The Link between Sleep Deprivation and Hypertension
There have been surveys conducted involving thousands of adults around the world who have confirmed an association between sleep deprivation and high blood pressure. However, why it affects blood pressure remains mysterious. The human body may require an adequate amount of sleep to manage certain hormone levels that contribute to blood pressure control. Whatever the reason behind this, there have been enough shreds of evidence that suggests sleeping less than seven hours each night can raise the risk of developing high blood pressure levels.
Is there a sleeping position for High Blood Pressure?
People who have obstructive sleep apnea are advised to avoid sleeping on their back, as this position promotes airway blockage and may, therefore, cause blood pressure to rise.- For those with high blood pressure, sleeping on the left side is advised Because in this position blood arteries that return blood to the heart are less under pressure as a result of it. Sleeping on one's left side helps ease the strain on the cardiovascular system and improve blood flow.
- The right side of the body is where these vessels are mostly found and compressing these veins when sleeping on the right side may slow down circulation. Always seek the advice of a medical practitioner to ensure that your high blood pressure is under control.
For more information about sleeping problems and OSA, book your sleep test today.
