Sleep Blog

Sometimes heart disease is a cause of poor sleep. People with heart failure may wake up with trouble breathing, which stems from fluid buildup in the lungs. There’s also some evidence that heart failure leads to sleep apnea, a breathing problem that can awaken a person repeatedly throughout the night. Some people have nighttime angina (chest pain), bouts of atrial fibrillation, or palpitations (the sensation of a racing or pounding heart) that disturb sleep.

The Harvard Heart Letter suggests that if you aren’t getting enough sleep, you may need better sleep habits like the ones listed below. If these don’t work, talk with your doctor about having an overnight sleep study performed.

• Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
• Use your bed only for sleeping or sex.
• Turn down the heat. Keep the bedroom cool enough to sleep without being cold, but not warm enough to not need at least a sheet. You want an environment that is for sleep, not relaxation, reading, television watching, or conversation.
• If you’re not asleep within 20 minutes, get out of bed and do something, such as read or watch a late-night talk show or infomercial until you’re sleepy.
• Go easy on alcohol and caffeine; avoid nicotine.
• While good for you, exercise in the late afternoon so it helps you in another way: to get a good night’s sleep.

If you do not have health insurance, have health insurance that does not cover a sleep study or xPAP equipment (the generic term for CPAP or bi-level (aka “BiPAP”), be sure to check out Awake In America’s Sleep Study Relief Program and Awake In America’s xPAP Donation and Relief Program. While there, also consider making an individual donation to the non-profit organization to help fund its programs, including the relief programs. If you have input at your company, you might also mention the company could become a corporate sponsor. Donations and sponsorships are deductible to the fullest extent allowed under law.

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