Disrupted sleep and the “blood pressure dip”
The other cardiovascular risk factor associated with our nighttime routine is the quality of sleep. Consuming caffeinated beverages or energy drinks, or even consuming alcohol before going to bed disrupts our sleep cycle and the deep sleep periods, adding more stress to the heart.
For many, having a glass or two of alcohol before going to bed is a way of relaxing and falling asleep easily. However, what many are not aware of are the downsides of consuming alcohol at this time of the day. This routine affect REM and deep sleep stages, leaving the cardiovascular system in a prolonged state of stress, just as with the caffeine and the energy drinks.
As noted in the data published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), good-quality, undisturbed sleep is important for a physiological process called “nighttime dipping.” When you sleep deeply, your blood pressure naturally falls by 10 to 20 percent. This drop helps your heart, arteries, and blood vessels to have some time to relax and recuperate from their daily activities.
When the sleep gets disrupted by caffeine, sugar, or breathing disruptions, your body remains in a sympathetic “fight-or-flight” state. This means your blood pressure remains high for longer periods throughout the night. Over time, this causes damage to the cerebral arteries and makes hypertension the primary and most preventable cause of stroke.
Further, a global epidemiological study published in the medical journal Neurology confirmed that individuals who regularly experienced multiple sleep disturbances, such as frequent nighttime awakenings, chronic insomnia, or tossing and turning, faced a significantly higher statistical risk of suffering a stroke compared to those who maintained healthy, consistent sleep schedules. The researchers noted that poor sleep quality should be treated as a major independent risk factor for vascular incidents, right alongside smoking and high cholesterol.
The Warning Signs (B.E. F.A.S.T.)
If you or someone else wakes up with these symptoms, it requires immediate emergency medical attention. Do not try to roll over and “sleep it off.”
