How good sleep protects your heart

I recently found myself back in a cardiologist’s office for a heart check-up - perhaps a sign that long days and the general busyness of life as a management consultant were catching up with me. As he flicked through my file, re-familiarising himself with my medical notes from almost three years prior, the questions began.

“What are you doing for work?”
“How many alcoholic drinks do you consume in an average week?”
“Do you smoke or vape?”

“Are you on any medication”?

And then, without hesitation:
“Are you sleeping well?”

It struck me as interesting. Surrounded by expensive and high-tech equipment - heart monitors, imaging machines and even a treadmill in the corner to record how my heart responded to a workout, one of the first things he wanted to understand was something as simple as my sleep.

I’m fortunate - I generally sleep reasonably well. But like most people, I have good periods and not-so-good ones. And I’m acutely aware many people aren’t as lucky as that. For many, poor sleep is a nightly frustration that spills into every part of their lives. Wanting to help people sleep better and wake refreshed each morning is one of the key reasons JIMJAMS exists.

But that question from the cardiologist stayed with me long after my appointment had finished. Why does sleep matter so much to heart health?

It took me back to one of my favourite books, the international bestseller ‘Why We Sleep’ by Matthew Walker. In Chapter 8 - aptly titled ‘Cancer, Heart Attacks and a Shorter Life’, Walker reframes the entire way we should think about wellbeing.

He writes:

“Sleep is more than a pillar; it is the foundation on which the other two health bastions (of food and exercise) sit. Take away the bedrock of sleep, or weaken it just a little, and careful eating or physical exercise become less than effective.” (1)

And the research backs him up.

Consider a Japanese study following 2,282 male workers for fourteen years. Those who regularly slept less than six hours a night had more than triple the risk of a cardiovascular event compared with those sleeping between 7 and 7.9 hours. (2)

And age didn’t dilute that risk. Sleep debt, it turns out, is ageless.

Then there’s the extraordinary impact of daylight savings. When people lose just one hour of sleep during the spring and autumn clock changes (depending on whether you live in the northern or southern hemispheres), global hospital records show a sharp spike in heart attacks the next day. When the hour is gained, heart-attack rates plummet. All with just one hour’s difference in sleep – coincidence much?

It does make you wonder. We think about our diets each day. We invest in gyms, exercise classes, new running shoes and general wellness with our fitness trackers. But sleep - something we all do each day, something that feels so simple - quietly shapes the health of our heart every single night, much more than diet or exercise can.

Of course, we all enjoy a late night now and then (and I think that balance is important). And sometimes life just gets in the way of perfect rest. But it’s easy for us all to underestimate the cumulative effect of poor sleep on your long-term health, especially the health of your heart.

So, the next time you have the chance of an early night, take it. Your heart will thank you for it.

 

At JIMJAMS, we believe that sleep is a superpower and consistency is how you unlock it. Our sleepwear is designed for comfort and performance, helping your body transition smoothly from the busyness of the day to restorative rest.

Make bedtime a ritual, not a chore and your mornings will thank you for it.

🛌 Ready to build a healthier sleep routine?
Explore our range at www.jimjams.au.

 You work hard all day, let us help you rest easy at night.

 

Sources:

(1) ‘Why We Sleep’ by Matthew Walker, chapter 8, ‘Cancer, Heart Attacks and a Shorter Life’, page 163.

(2) ‘Why We Sleep’ by Matthew Walker, chapter 8, ‘Cancer, Heart Attacks and a Shorter Life’, page 164.