Can Too Little Sleep Cause High Blood Pressure?

If you needed another good reason to get enough shut-eye, here it is.

Sleep may be one of the most overlooked keys to good health. Getting enough quality sleep is an essential part of your well-being. When you don't sleep enough, you may not only feel tired, cranky 和 irritable the next day, but you may also be contributing to serious health issues. One of the more serious problems that can occur when you get too little sleep is that your blood pressure may increase.

It is recommended that adults get 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep each night. While an occasional night of less sleep won't have much effect on your overall health, routinely getting less than 6 hours of sleep each day has been shown to be bad for your health. When it comes to blood pressure, 你睡得越少, the more impact it may have on your blood pressure.

How does a lack of sleep affect blood pressure?

One reason a lack of sleep affects blood pressure is that sleep helps manage stress hormones like cortisol. 如果你睡眠不足, your body can't properly regulate these hormones, which can lead to high blood pressure.

Can high blood pressure contribute to poor sleep?

Not only does poor sleep contribute to high blood pressure, but high blood pressure may also contribute to poor sleep. Many people with elevated blood pressure are more prone to chronic stress 和 anxiety. This can negatively affect your ability to sleep well. So it becomes a cycle of poor sleep increasing blood pressure 和 increased blood pressure possibly making it harder to sleep.

Are there other ways that sleep can affect blood pressure?

Sleep 和 high blood pressure may also have another connection—sleep apnea. 如果你有这种情况, your breathing periodically stops during sleep, resulting in reduced airflow. It can cause you to sleep poorly, wake up frequently 和 gasp for air during the night. Sleep apnea deprives your body of oxygen 和 is a major risk factor for high blood pressure. 

What can you do to prevent high blood pressure?

根据 Centers for Disease Control 和 Prevention, nearly half of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure 和 only about 1 in 4 people with high blood pressure have it under control. If you are concerned about developing high blood pressure or are trying to lower already elevated blood pressure, follow healthy lifestyle habits like limiting sodium, 吃健康食品, 定期锻炼, maintaining a healthy weight 和 not smoking. Also be sure to get enough sleep because this often overlooked daily habit can have an effect on your blood pressure.