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How Sleep and Heart Health Are Connected

Writer's picture: Maryal ConcepcionMaryal Concepcion

Have you ever felt super tired during the day, even after a full night’s sleep? Or maybe you know someone who snores loudly or seems to stop breathing for a moment while they sleep? These could be signs of a condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is not just about sleep—it’s also about your heart.

Let’s explore how sleep and heart health are connected and why a sleep study could be a game-changer for your health.


Why Sleep Matters for Your Heart

Good sleep is like a reset button for your body. It helps your heart recover from the day and keeps your blood pressure and heart rate balanced. But if your sleep is interrupted by problems like OSA, it can put extra strain on your heart over time.


Signs You Might Need a Sleep Study

A sleep study is a special test that helps doctors figure out what’s happening while you sleep. It might be something to think about if you:

  • Feel super tired during the day for no clear reason

  • Snore loudly or wake up gasping for air

  • Have high blood pressure that’s hard to control

  • Already have heart problems like atrial fibrillation or heart failure


The Link Between Cholesterol and Sleep

Did you know that high cholesterol can also be connected to sleep problems? Studies show that people with high cholesterol are more likely to have severe sleep apnea. This is important because sleep apnea and high cholesterol together can increase the risk of heart disease.


Who Else Should Consider a Sleep Study?

Sleep studies aren’t just for adults with heart risks. They can also help:

  • Kids with conditions like Down syndrome or breathing problems during sleep

  • People with muscle conditions that make breathing at night harder

  • Cancer survivors who have trouble sleeping


How a Sleep Study Works

SLEEP CENTERS:

During a sleep study, you’ll spend the night at a clinic (or sometimes at home with special equipment) while machines monitor your breathing, heart rate, and sleep patterns. The results can help your doctor decide on the best treatment, which might include something like a CPAP machine to help you breathe better at night.

AT-HOME SLEEP STUDIES:

At Big Trees MD, we offer our patients options to do 1-30 day sleep studies that are mailed directly to you and done in the comfort of your own home.


Why This Matters

Taking care of your sleep is a simple but powerful way to protect your heart. If you or someone you know has symptoms like snoring, daytime sleepiness, or heart problems, talk to your doctor about whether a sleep study might help.

Good sleep isn’t just about feeling rested—it’s about keeping your heart healthy, too.

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©2025 Big Trees MD, a health clinic through BIG TREES HEALTH

A Direct Primary Care Clinic in Arnold, CA

For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public. Open Payments Database

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