We all know that sleep is good for us and I’m sure the majority of people out there would like to have more of it.  So just in case you need another excuse,  here’s another reason to make time for sleep – not getting enough of it can cause hypertension.  And not just any kind of sleep will do. We’re talking about wonderful deep slumber.  According to a new study that was done by researchers at the Harvard Medical School, it’s quality and not quantity that matter here.  It was found that the less deep sleep the men in the study had, (women were not a focus of this study though many believe the results would be the same) the greater their chances were for developing sleep apnea and getting less sleep in general.

So why the drop in blood pressure for the heavy sleepers?  During deep sleep, the brain slows down as well as the heart rate, adrenaline levels and the blood pressure.  When a lack of sleep occurs, these dips in vitals do not happen.  And when the dips do not happen, the risk for heart disease increases and blood pressure can rise.  The only way to know if you’re not getting enough of the deep sleep is to go your doctor and request an overnight sleep study.  But if you remain physically and mentally active throughout the day and still do not feel well rested after a full night’s sleep, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor.

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