Stress can contribute to hypertension and heart disease. Similarly, not getting enough sleep or regularly getting poor quality sleep increases your heart risk and can also contribute to stress. It is generally accepted that most adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night.
Here are some ideas for managing your stress and sleeping better:
Do a stress-reducing activity like meditation or yoga.
Talk with someone you trust to help cope with stress.
Find a friend or family member who shares your stress-reducing goals. Work together as a support team.
Follow healthy sleep practices (sometimes referred to as “sleep hygiene”) to help you get a good night’s sleep. Some practices that can improve your sleep health include: going to bed at the same time each night and getting up at the same time each morning, including weekends; making sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing, and at a comfortable temperature; removing electronic devices, such as TVs, computers, and smart phones, from the bedroom; avoiding large meals, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol before bedtime; and being physically active during the day, which can help you fall asleep more easily at night.
Share because you care! Share this blog with your family members and friends. Let us (Biophilia Partners) know how you’re achieving your goals of preventing heart disease.
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We would like to acknowledge the NHLBI and AHA for their content that significantly contributed to this blog. We encourage you to follow them on twitter @NIH_NHLBI and @American_Heart for heart healthy tips and resources during American Heart Month.
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