𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐎𝐟𝐟! ❤️ An often-overlooked part of cardiovascular health: sleep. As a cardiac surgeon, I spend a great deal of time discussing the traditional cardiovascular risk factors with patients: hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, weight and physical activity. But we also need to talk about sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea can repeatedly interrupt breathing during the night, causing fluctuations in oxygen levels and surges in sympathetic activity, heart rate and blood pressure. Untreated sleep apnea has been associated with hypertension, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke. Perhaps most concerning is that many people may not realize they have it. Sometimes the first person to recognize the problem is a spouse or partner who notices loud snoring, gasping or pauses in breathing. Sleep should be restorative. If you’re consistently exhausted despite spending enough time in bed, or someone tells you that your breathing is abnormal while you sleep, it’s worth discussing with your healthcare provider. When we talk about cardiovascular prevention, sleep deserves a place in that conversation. We spend roughly one-third of our lives sleeping. Your heart never gets the night off. @American_Heart @ACCinTouch #Cardiology #HeartHealth #SleepApnea #CardiovascularHealth #PreventiveHealth