It’s almost Valentine’s Day – a time when we celebrate love and the amazing people we are blessed to share life with!  Most of us get so caught up in the Valentine’s Day festivities that we forget that there is another reason why February is a special month, it’s American Heart Month! February, “Healthy Heart Month”, is devoted to bringing awareness and promoting prevention of heart disease – the number one killer of men and women in the United States. Today I’d like to explore with you an important piece of the healthy heart puzzle that often gets overlooked: sleep.

Yes, diet and exercise play a vital role in heart health, but did you know sleep can be just as important to your overall health?  Studies now show that poor sleep promotes chronic inflammation, which can lead to heart disease. One of the most common sleep problems we face is sleep apnea, a condition in which a person stops breathing as many as 5 to 30 times an hour while sleeping. Shockingly, one in five adults suffers from at least a mild form of sleep apnea.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?
Excess body weight, reflux and a large neck can lead to the development of sleep apnea.  These conditions can cause the muscles that hold the airway open to lose their tone, resulting in periodic closing of the airway. When our airway closes, our brain and the rest of our body are deprived of oxygen.

What are the symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Pauses in breathing while sleeping, gasping for breath, and fatigue.

What are the risks associated with Sleep Apnea?
Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to severe drowsiness, high blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke, and an increased risk of developing diabetes, depression and heart failure.

What can you do?
If you suspect you might have sleep apnea, first check with your partner to see if they have noticed that you stop breathing or gasp for air while you are sleeping.  If they confirm your suspicions or if you still have concerns, talk to your physician about having a sleep study.

If you do have sleep apnea, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is often recommended to treat the issue and allow you to sleep better. For more information on getting a good night’s sleep, check out Jan’s book, Eat Well to Be Well, where she shares an entire chapter (co-written with sleep expert, Dr. James Maas) on how to get your very best night’s sleep!