Sure it makes sense that not getting enough sleep can lead to fatigue, irritability, and even lower immune function, but what does sleep have to do with your heart?
A recent study published in the European Heart Journal showed that getting less then 6 hours of sleep per night (or disrupted sleep) can increase your risk of heart disease by 48%!
When you only get a few hours of sleep, night after night, the body produces hormones and chemicals that end up predisposing you to heart disease and strokes, as well as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Let’s keep your heart healthy and get you sleeping! There are so many natural ways to help…it is simply a matter of figuring out what your body needs. That is where I can help you!
In some cases sleep is disrupted because the body is in a stress mode that doesn’t turn off just because you jumped in bed. Adrenaline and cortisol may be rushing through your body, making your mind race, in which case checking adrenaline and cortisol levels can be very helpful because we can use nutrients and herbs to calm them down, and lull you to sleep.
Another possibility is that your serotonin levels are low, leading to low melatonin, both of which help to keep you asleep. The good news is we can use the precursor nutrients to raise the levels back to optimal again.
Many people experience blood sugar fluctuations, which may even be in the “normal range,” that are enough to wake you up and make it difficult to go back to sleep. Actually what helps most is to balance blood sugar levels while you are awake (eat every 4 hours, including protein).
It all comes down to stress and how your body responds to it. The key is minimize stress, and to help your body to recover from stress.
If you are not getting good sleep, please consider setting an appointment to meet with me.
Sweet dreams!
Dr. Doni
DONIELLE WILSON is a women’s health expert and Naturopathic Doctor with a private practice in New York City, Port Jefferson, NY, and Connecticut. She specializes in showing women and their loved ones how to achieve their wellness goals by finally getting the answers they’ve been looking for to their most perplexing health challenges. To learn more about Dr. Doni and her unique approach to achieving health naturally, please visit Dr. Doni today.