Most of us are aware of the impacts of things like exercise, stress, and overwhelm on our vital signs such as heart rate, and blood pressure. Many of us track these vital signs before and after a workout, or when we are feeling stressed. But did you know that your sleep patterns are also closely related to heart rate and hypertension (high blood pressure) as well?
Why Sleep?
The autonomic system is the part of our nervous system that controls our involuntary actions. Like our heart beat and the constriction of our arteries, these functions impact our heart rate and blood pressure. Our sleep influences our autonomic nervous system. Sleep deprivation for example, can lead to hypertension and increase risk for other blood pressure issues. Which is why it is important to practice healthy sleeping patterns, and seek medical attention for sleep disorders.
Sleep Deprivation: The Risks
Sleep deprivation occurs when we don’t get enough hours of sleep, especially of deep REM sleep. REM sleep is essential for good heart health, as this is when the body recuperates and allows the heart to recover from stress and strain from day life. Most adults need about 7-8 hours of rest each night, anything less than 6 is considered unhealthy. however according to the CDC about 1 in 3 adults say they do not get the recommended amount.
The less you sleep, the higher your blood pressure can rise. Anything less than 6 hours leads to steeper increases in blood pressure. If you’re someone who already suffers from hypertension, lack of proper sleep can make it worse. Those with sleep-deprivation show less variability in their heart rate, which means that instead of fluctuating normally, the heart rate is staying elevated and causing stress. On the other hand, too much sleep can lead to weight gain and higher blood sugar which also negatively affects the heart.
Keeping Track of Your Sleep, Heart Rate, and Blood Pressure.
On days you feel sleep deprived it can be beneficial to track your heart rate and blood pressure to make sure that you are at healthy levels. If you are prone to high stress and blood pressure, tracking these signs daily and noting the hours and quality of sleep can help you understand the relationship between the three.
veyetals, is a free wellness app developed by MarkiTech (Markitech.AI ™), in collaboration with Queen’s University Computer, Vision and AI Lab. Veyetals uses a real-time health monitoring system to measure heart rate, heart rate variability and more with 90-95% accuracy, using just your smartphone’s camera. veyetals is easy to access, use, and track information on, making healthcare more accessible to at-risk populations without the need for costly medical devices.
About Us
Our cloud based, lightweight API allows veyetals to be integrated with the healthcare apps and platforms that matter to you most. The app is interoperable with other healthcare management systems including, but not limited to, SenSights.AI. veyetals drives information sharing with other health management solutions and further enhances the continuum of patient care.
Download our FREE app here
Follow us on LinkedIn at veyetals.com for more updates.
Credits: CDC, US National Library of Medicine, SleepFoundation
#Manage-Blood-Pressure #Pain-Medicine #Telehealth
