In a healthy coronary garden, coronary heart disease and the quality of sleep are two interwoven vines, which are inextricably and profoundly linked to the health and well-being of the human body. Coronary heart disease, a “porridge ghost” lurking in the coronary artery, threatens the blood supply function of the heart at all times; and sleep, the quality of this life-rehabilitating bay, is as bad as a double-edged sword, able to protect the health of the heart or, inadvertently, to become the “backhand” of a coronary heart attack.
I. Sleep disorders: dangerous “conspirators” of coronary heart disease
Insomnia “heartal disturbances”: long nights, insomnia with shadows, is by no means simply difficult to sleep or interrupted sleep for people with coronary heart problems. When the insomnia is covered by the insomnia, the sense of neurological excitement in the body, like the awakening of the “responsible little monster”, causes blood pressure to rise and heart rate to accelerate. For the fragile coronary artery, this is no doubt an increase in the severity of the disease, which increases the oxygen consumption of the myocardial muscles and puts more stress on the heart in these dark times. Long-term insomnia also leads to an increase in the levels of inflammation in the body, as in the case of “small flames” lit inside the veins, accelerating the process of sclerosis of the aneurystic sample and making the coronary plaque more unstable, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular events such as coronary heart attacks and cardiac disorders. Imagine, on silent nights, insomnia patients lie in their beds and their hearts are “high-speed” in their bodies, like small boats in a storm, facing dangerous rocks.
The “blood-oxygen crisis” of sleep-respiration suspension: On the stage of sleep, sleep-respiration syndrome is a “disturbant” that cannot be ignored. In particular, obstructive sleep breathing is suspended, and patients are repeatedly suspended in their sleep, for decades or longer each time. During this period, the body was like a “snip throat” where oxygen was strangled, and blood oxygen saturated sharply and the heart had to work hard to make up for the oxygen shortage. This repeated lack of oxygen – a regenerative process, like a ruthless double-edged sword, leads, on the one hand, to an increased burden on the heart and an increase in myocardial condensation; on the other hand, it causes damage to the internal vascular function, making it easier for the slabs to gather and the risk of leaching has increased significantly. At the same time, lack of oxygen stimulates a sense of neuroexulsion, further increases blood pressure and puts the coronary artery at a high level of stress. Like a car on a rugged mountain road, frequent brakes and accelerations, damage to engines (heart) and tyres (vasculars) is known. Furthermore, studies have found that coronary heart disease is several times more likely to occur in patients with sleep respiratory suspension than in normal populations and that its severity is directly related to the level of sleep respiratory suspension.
“Reverse effects” of coronary heart disease on sleep
People with coronary heart problems often suffer from a number of disorders at night due to impaired heart function, which are like a group of “inhabitants” who seriously interfere with the quality of sleep. For example, when the heart is hurried, the chest pain is like a sharp “stabbing arrow” that can be emitted to the front of the heart, the shoulder, the arm, etc., awakening the patient from sleep, and the pain makes it difficult for the patient to sleep again. People suffering from heart failure may experience respiratory difficulties during the night, with an increase in their sleep, forcing them to take an end seat in order to be relieved, and this frequent change of position and lack of breathing, like a “sleep nightmare”, prevents them from reaching a state of deep sleep. In addition, some patients suffer from acute illness, severe psychological stress and high mental stress, such as a tight “coin string”, which causes anxiety and fear, further aggravates sleep disorders and creates a vicious circle.
Sleep improvement: “The key to peace” for coronary heart disease control
The “building blocks” of sleeping hygiene habits: the development of good sleeping hygiene habits is the first step towards improving the quality of sleep, as is the construction of a strong “wall” for healthy sleep. The regularity of the time of rest, each day, as much as possible to go to bed and get up at the same time, so that the biological clock of the body forms a stable rhythm. For example, bedtime around 10:30 at night, get up around 6:30 in the morning, not much time difference even on weekends. Create a comfortable sleep environment where the temperature of the bedroom is controlled at 20 – 25°C, with a humidity of 40 – 60%, and choose a comfortable mattress and pillow to ensure that the bedroom is quiet, dark and ventilated. A quiet “source of the world’s peaches” for sleep can be built using assistive tools such as curtain shades and ear plugs. Avoiding the use of electronic devices, such as mobile phones, computers, televisions, etc., before sleeping, because the blue light from these devices inhibits the secretion of melanin, which is an important hormone for sleep regulation. Instead, it can read paper books or listen to soft music, relax and help sleep.
“Special attack” for the suspension of sleep breathing: For coronary heart patients suffering from sleep-respiration syndrome, active treatment of sleep-respiration suspension is a key element in improving heart health. Fatten reduction is one of the important means of treatment, and if a patient is overweight, weight reduction can effectively reduce upper respiratory stress and improve the symptoms of respiratory suspension. It’s like cleaning up mud for a blocked river, so that the air flow can pass. The PCPAP is the most common method currently used to treat sleep-respiration suspension, with patients wearing a mask during their sleep, giving a certain positive pressure flow through the mask, and keeping the airway open. It’s like building a “safe bridge” for sleep breathing to prevent the wind drain. In addition, it may be helpful to adjust the sleep position, for example by using side-sleep, to reduce the pressure on the airway by falling behind the tongue and the frequency at which breathing pauses occur.
Mentally adapted and relaxed “mental comfort”: people suffering from coronary heart disease often suffer from ailments such as anxiety and depression, which disproportionately affect the quality of sleep. Thus, the use of psychological adjustment and relaxation techniques is like a “baptism of the mind”, which helps to relieve emotional stress and improve sleep. The patient can try to take a deep breath exercise, sit down or lie down in a quiet and comfortable place, breathe slowly, fill the air with abdomen, and then breathe slowly, for 5 – 10 minutes each, several times a day. This deep-breath exercise regulates autonomous nervous functions and relaxes the body and mood. Meditation is also an effective way of relaxing, where patients close their eyes, focus on their own breath or a particular image, remove grotesque thoughts and calm their thoughts. Meditating for 15 – 20 minutes a day reduces anxiety and improves the quality of sleep. In addition, relaxing techniques such as yoga and gradual muscle laxity may also be used on an individual basis. At the same time, patients should actively communicate with their families, friends or doctors, share their feelings, receive emotional support and psychological counselling, and reduce psychological burdens.
“Cautionary choice” in drug treatment: In some cases, doctors may consider the use of drugs to assist in sleep improvement, depending on the patient’s circumstances. However, medication must be treated with caution, as some sleeping drugs may have potential risks for people with coronary heart problems. For example, some sedative hypnotics may inhibit the respiratory centre, increase the symptoms of suspension of sleep breathing or affect the heart function. Thus, when choosing a drug, doctors take into account a combination of the patient ‘ s condition, the safety and effectiveness of the drug. For insomnia patients who require medical treatment, priority is usually given to short-acting, low-effect drugs and the patient ‘ s response is closely observed. At the same time, patients must not buy and use sleeping medicine at their own free will and must do so under the guidance of a doctor.
The relationship between coronary heart disease and sleep quality is like a complex and delicate “healthy dance”. Sleep disorders can become a trigger for coronary heart disease and a “pusher” that exacerbates it, while coronary heart disease in turn affects the quality of sleep and creates a vicious circle. Thus, while actively treating heart diseases, the improvement in the quality of sleep must not be overlooked. A combination of measures, such as the establishment of good sleeping hygiene habits, active treatment of sleep breathing pauses, psychological adjustment and relaxation exercises, and the prudent use of medicines, such as the creation of a “key of peace” for the heart and sleep, can break the vicious circle, achieve a virtuous interaction between the health of the heart and the quality of sleep, and allow patients to take more robust steps on healthy roads and embrace a new life of vitality and peace.
