Sleep Quality and Blood Pressure
In the June 8 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, investigators from Chicago reported on 578 early-middle-aged adults in whom sleep duration was compared with blood pressure levels. These individuals had sleep assessments, using an activity monitor worn on the wrist, for three consecutive nights. The activity monitor allows investigators to quantify the duration of sleep, and the quality of sleep (i.e., the amount of nighttime "restlessness").
The investigators report that individuals who have relatively short sleep duration, or relatively poor sleep quality, tended to have higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures. This study is consistent with a few other studies that have associated suboptimal sleep patterns with hypertension.
Once again, an association does not necessarily mean cause-and-effect. Still, there are many health benefits to making sure you get a good night's sleep - and now it appears as if improving blood pressure control may be another reason.
Sources:
Knutson KL, Van Cauter, E, Rathoua PJ, et al. Association between sleep and blood pressure in midlife. The CARDIA sleep study. Arch Intern Med 2009; 169:1055-61.
You can sleep better every night using earplugs, a sleep mask, a sound conditioner (white noise machine) and blackout liners. I’ve been using these things for 20+ years and can’t do without them. Google “bucky sleep mask” or “marpac 980″ (the most popular sleep products) or visit http://www.thecompletesleeper.com, which carries this kind of product.
Paul
I can’t speak for the blood pressure since my biggest improvement has been taking two Vitamins for my blood pressure and when I was in the hospital, I was strictly depending on my drugs and my blood pressure was mostly much higher because I didn’t have the blood pressure Vitamins and I got better sleep during the day since they were constantly giving me new drips overnight, but I can honestly say when I get more good sleep with my Melatonin, I know my blood sugar is lower and better when I drink green tea and I ate as healthy food as before so that wasn’t the reason, and the high fiber rice has helped a lot too. If I take the right pills, I get better blood pressure, blood sugar and I feel better, but I didn’t get to bed until midnight to be ready for my doc appointment today and I woke up at 7:30 AM to be ready for the ride there, but although the medical people say otherwise, seven hours is not perfect, but I feel much better if I can get that much sleep overnight, I feel good all day, and I am sorry if this was confusing.
In Christ, Vernon
Thank goodness I don’t need any gimmicks to coax my body to go to sleep. I’m not a clock watcher—I just go to bed when I get sleepy—whatever the hour. I go into a deep sleep instantly, sleep soundly for around five hours and then I’m fully awake. I’m 70, my blood pressure runs from 115-120 over 62-72. By the way, I occupy myself with activities I enjoy and I’ve always had faithful loving companions—dogs.