Why is sleep important for my heart?

Sleep is important for your heart because it's a time where your body rests and repairs. When you sleep well, your body turns the volume down, your stress levels drop, your heart rate slows and your blood pressure usually falls overnight. That drop is good for your heart and blood vessels. If you regularly sleep too little or if your sleep is broken, your heart doesn't get that break. Over time, this can raise blood pressure and put extra strain on the heart. Poor sleep can also make it easier to gain weight and harder to control blood sugar. It can increase inflammation in the body too. All of these can increase the risk of heart disease. In summary, sleep is the foundation for your cardiovascular health. Without a good night's sleep, everything else crumbles.