Researchers studying sleep have been attempting to raise awareness about the growing link between poor sleep and heart disease for years. The all-important connection is now beginning to be recognized after much effort.
For the first time, the American Heart Association advises Americans to measure their cardiovascular health by getting enough sleep. Life’s Essential 8 replaces Life’s Simple 7, a shorter list of metrics created in 2010.
Sleep quality joins a familiar list of healthy heart targets, including a healthy diet, adequate physical activity, smoking cessation, a healthy weight, and healthy blood lipids, blood sugars, and blood pressure.
NHLBI-funded scientists have provided extensive evidence over the years that sleep is related to cardiovascular health.
“We are delighted to see the American Heart Association incorporate evidence, much of it from NHLBI-supported research, showing that sleep health is foundational to human health, including heart health,” said David Goff, M.D., Ph.D., director of NHLBI’s Division of Cardiovascular Diseases. Noting that NHLBI partners with AHA to promote heart-health research and lifestyles, Goff added, “The evolution of AHA’s Life’s Simple 7 into the Essential 8 holds great promise for advancing our shared mission to turn discovery into better cardiovascular health for all.”
