Impact of Sleep on Cardiovascular Health: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Sleep is a universal biological function but remains poorly understood and a relatively new field of science and medicine. Over the past decade, there have been rapidly accumulating scientific and clinical data around sleep, including the effects of various sleep aspects on cardiovascular health. Much of the research in the field has focused on sleep-disordered breathing, particularly obstructive sleep apnea. However, other sleep pathologies including hypersomnolence disorders, sleep-related movement disorders, and parasomnia disorders have been linked with cardiovascular health. Other areas of sleep, such as sleep duration, timing, and circadian rhythms, also have a demonstrated association with heart health. In this review, we provide an updated summary of the literature connecting sleep and cardiovascular disease.