Getting a good night’s rest is one precautionary measure people can take to
prevent heart disease—the leading cause of death among Americans—and it’s
advice that will certainly be stressed during American Heart Month in
February.
 
“During American Heart Month, it is important to remember the implications
of sleep on cardiovascular health. Specifically, obstructive sleep apnea
(OSA) is considered a factor in causing or being associated with high blood
pressure, heart attacks, stroke, and congestive heart failure,” said David
A. Kristo, MD, medical director of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s
Sleep Disorders Center in Washington, DC, and a diplomat of the American
Board of Sleep Medicine. “Treatment of OSA may improve control of blood
pressure and improve nocturnal oxygen levels, which helps in minimizing
risks of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.”