How Sleep Disorders Can Affect Your Heart Valves
Share
Introduction
When we think about sleep problems, we usually worry about feeling tired the next day. But sleep disorders can do much more than affect your energy—they may also harm your heart. New research shows a strong link between sleep issues, especially sleep apnea, and a serious heart condition called aortic stenosis, where one of the heart valves becomes narrow and stiff.
What Is Aortic Stenosis?
Aortic stenosis (AS) happens when the valve that sends blood from your heart to the rest of your body becomes thick and stiff. This makes it harder for your heart to pump blood and can lead to fatigue, chest pain, or even heart failure if left untreated. It mostly affects older adults, especially those over age 65.
The Sleep-Heart Connection
Recent research using data from millions of patients found that people with sleep disorders—especially before the age of 65—are more likely to develop aortic stenosis later in life. Even when other risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol were taken into account, the risk was still higher in those with sleep issues.
Some key findings included:
- People with sleep apnea had the highest increased risk.
- Other sleep problems like hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness), narcolepsy, and movement-related sleep disorders were also linked to higher risk.
- Changes in cholesterol and fat levels in the blood may partly explain this connection.
Why Sleep Affects Heart Valves
Sleep is when the body restores itself—including the heart. When sleep is poor or disrupted, especially repeatedly over many years, it affects how the body handles things like fat, sugar, and blood pressure. This creates stress on blood vessels and the heart, which may lead to damage over time.
In particular, people with sleep apnea stop breathing briefly during sleep. This triggers repeated drops in oxygen levels and increases in blood pressure, which may damage the heart valves over time.
The Role of Cholesterol
The research also found that people with sleep disorders often have worse cholesterol levels—lower “good” HDL and higher triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood). These changes in blood fat patterns seem to partly explain why sleep problems lead to valve damage.
This means sleep problems might not just be a sign of poor health—they could be a cause of long-term damage.
What You Can Do
Here are a few practical tips to reduce your risk:
- Pay attention to your sleep – If you snore loudly, feel very sleepy during the day, or have trouble falling or staying asleep, talk to your doctor.
- Treat sleep disorders early – Conditions like sleep apnea can often be managed with devices like CPAP machines or lifestyle changes.
- Watch your heart health – Keep blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar in check. These factors are all linked to both sleep problems and heart disease.
- Maintain a healthy weight – Being overweight is a risk factor for both sleep disorders and valve disease.
- Get regular check-ups – Especially after age 50, regular visits can help spot early signs of heart or sleep issues.
Conclusion
Sleep is more than rest—it’s a key part of your heart health. If left untreated, sleep disorders may lead to serious heart valve problems like aortic stenosis. But the good news is that many of these issues are preventable with early attention and healthy habits.
If you’ve been brushing off your sleep troubles, now’s a good time to take them seriously. A good night’s sleep might just help protect your heart for years to come.