While there’s no way to prevent getting older, your biological age is not necessarily your chronological age. Biological age reflects the state of your cells and tissues and how your body is aging at a cellular level. Depending on your diet and lifestyle habits, your biological age can be either younger or older than your chronological age. There’s one common habit that doctors say ages the heart even faster than smoking. Here's what you need to know.
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The Habit That Ages Heart Health Faster Than Smoking, According to Cardiologists
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Dr. Beverly J. Fang, MD, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, says that chronic sleep deprivation is linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure, one key way that not getting enough sleep ages the heart. “The risk is higher with even shorter sleep durations of fewer than five hours per night. Some studies suggest this relationship may be particularly pronounced in women,” she explains.
Why does this happen? According to Dr. Fang, when we don’t get enough sleep, the systems that help regulate blood pressure are disrupted. “Sleep restriction increases activation of the sympathetic nervous system—the body’s ‘fight, flight, freeze’ response—which raises heart rate and blood pressure,” she says, adding that, at the same time, not getting enough sleep raises cortisol levels. Together, this can lead to higher blood pressure over time because it prevents the natural dips in blood pressure that happen during sleep.
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“It also destabilizes existing plaque, raising the risk of sudden plaque rupture, which is the most common trigger for heart attacks,” he says. On top of all this, he explains that not getting enough sleep also worsens insulin resistance.
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“Smoking is a powerful cardiovascular toxin, but chronic sleep deprivation is a full-body system disruptor. Poor sleep drives constant sympathetic activation, chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalance, metabolic dysfunction, impaired vascular repair and accelerated biological aging—all at once,” he explains.
On top of that, Dr. Fang says that not getting enough sleep can also affect the brain’s endocannabinoid system, which can then increase cravings for calorie-dense foods high in carbohydrates and fats. “In addition, sleep deprivation is associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and impaired blood glucose regulation, raising the risk of developing diabetes or worsening diabetes control,” she says.
Because of all of the ways not getting enough sleep impacts heart health, consistently getting enough sleep is vital. To best support your circadian rhythm (and in turn, your cardiovascular system), Dr. Wolfson says to go to bed after it gets dark and rise with the sun. He adds that not using tech at night and getting sunshine during the day also supports circadian rhythm.
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Sources:
Heart disease remains leading cause of death as key health risk factors continue to rise. American Heart Association. Noto, S. (2023). Perspectives on aging and quality of life. Healthcare (Basel), 11(15), 2131. Dr. Beverly J. Fang, MD, psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and medicine at the University of Maryland School of MedicineDr. Jack Wolfson, DO, FACC, a cardiologist and the founder of Natural Heart DoctorRodgers, J.L., Jones, J., Bolleddu, S., et al. (2019). Cardiovascular Risks Associated with Gender and Aging. Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease. 6(2):19. Backman, I. (2024). The biology of aging. Yale School of MedicineMakarem, N., Shechter, A., Carnethon, M.R., et al. (2019). Sleep Duration and Blood Pressure: Recent Advances and Future Directions. Current Hypertension Reports. 21(5):33Mullington, J.M., Simpson, N.S., Meier-Ewert, H., et al. Sleep Loss and Inflammation. Best Practice and Clinical Research: Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 24(5):775-784Csige, I., Ujvárosy, D., Szabó, Z., et al. (2018). The Impact of Obesity on the Cardiovascular System. Journal of Diabetes Research. 2018:3407306. doi: 10.1155/2018/3407306Hence then, the article about this common daily habit ages your heart faster than smoking was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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