Many of us understand what it feels like to go through our days without enough rest. We know that getting good sleep is essential to our health, but sometimes getting enough sleep feels as elusive as finding the time to relaxing bath. To learn more about how lack of sleep affects our daily lives, I spoke to Dr. Sara Benjamin, a board-certified neurologist, about sleep deprivation's effects on our health. Dr. Benjamin was able to explain the link between sleep and heart health, as well as give some tips on how to get a better night’s rest.

Lack of Sleep Can Lead to Health Problems

Sleep isn’t just crucial for our energy levels—it’s also critical for overall health and well-being. “Not getting enough sleep is a general stress on the body,” Dr. Benjamin explains. “Stress hormones can strain your heart and make it harder to control your blood pressure and blood sugars.” Some sleep disorders may lead to cardiovascular problems, such as obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your breathing is interrupted during sleep. When we sleep, the body is completely relaxed, even the muscles that help you breathe. Relaxed muscles combined with a narrowed airway can interfere with our breathing. “In obstructive sleep apnea, there is an airway collapse, so you’re not getting enough oxygen in your blood. Your body needs to maintain that oxygen level, so sometimes it clamps down on the blood vessels, making it harder to control blood pressure,” explains Dr. Benjamin.

Over time untreated sleep apnea can lead to complications such as cardiovascular problems like heart failure, stroke, or abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia).

Dr. Benjamin’s Advice for Getting a Good Night’s Rest

Dr. Benjamin recommends putting yourself on a consistent schedule. “A set wake-up time is more important than a set bedtime,” she advises. “Don’t go to bed if you’re not sleepy, and don’t stay in bed if you’re not sleeping.”

Other tips for improving sleep:

• Reduce your caffeine intake

• Reduce your blue light exposure by setting aside tablets, phones, and other devices before bedtime

• Get more natural light outside during the day. “Less bright light in the evening and more bright light in the morning.”

• Wind down before bedtime by turning off bright overhead lights and using softer indirect lights

• Exercise until you’re hot, but give yourself enough time to cool down before bed.

• Try relaxing yoga movements and meditation

When to Seek Care From a Sleep Specialist

Dr. Benjamin recommends trying all of the techniques to see improvement in your sleep. However, if you’ve tried everything, or you’re getting the seven or eight recommended hours of sleep every night but not feeling rested during the day, it may be time to seek help.