Poor night's sleep can trigger atrial fibrillation the next day (15% more likely)

Medical Xpress / University of California, San Francisco / JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology ^ | Nov. 6, 2023 | Christopher X. Wong et al

[ConservativeMind]

We all know that a lousy night's sleep can leave us feeling drained the next day. Now a study has found another reason to catch more Z's: poor sleep is tied to significantly higher odds of experiencing atrial fibrillation (A-Fib)—irregular heartbeats that can lead to blood clots, heart failure, stroke and other heart-related problems—the following day.

A bad night of sleep was associated with a 15% greater risk of having an A-Fib episode, and continued poor sleep was associated with longer episodes of A-Fib.

The researchers noted that it is important to treat underlying disease that may be causing A-Fib, which is the most common type of arrythmia—when the heart beats too fast or too slow or irregularly.

The new study shows that strategies to improve general sleep quality also may help.

"Treating insomnia can be challenging, but in many cases, there are things within an individual's control that can meaningfully improve sleep quality," said Gregory M. Marcus, MD, MAS.

He suggested going to bed at a reasonable and at a consistent time, avoiding alcohol and caffeine before bedtime, using the bed only for sleep or romance, exercising regularly, keeping the room cool, avoiding naps and waking up at the same time each day.

Although the risks associated with A-Fib have been extensively investigated, this is the first time that researchers have seen an immediate connection to poor sleep.

The study tracked 419 patients in the I-STOP-AFIB trial. They rated their sleep quality each night, as either "amazing," "good," "average," "bad" or "horrible," and used mobile electrocardiograms to measure A-Fib episodes the following day.

[ConservativeMind]

Do your best to prioritize good sleep, for a whole host of reasons.

Better sleep brings that 15% down and stops longer A-Fib episodes.

[ConservativeMind]

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[DIRTYSECRET]

I’m sure one will sleep well after sex. I’ll smoke a joint once or twice a year-works great. A filling lunch and a nap. How about working one’s ass off in the daytime? Do you really need a doctor to explain it?

[jimtorr]

I get AFIB, and have sleep Apnea. I do all the things mentioned here to help get a good nights sleep, and them some. I also wear an Apple Watch to monitor my sleep, so I know when I don’t get a good sleep.

[ducttape45]

Wunnerful. Insomnia really sucks, and now there is even more reason to be concerned about it.

[Conservative independent]

Upon waking one morning in 2014, I experienced my first and only episode of atrial fibrillation that sent me to the hospital emergency room. When seeking a diagnosis, the doctor asked if I consumed energy drinks or used recreational drugs. I answered no to both questions. It was when I mentioned feeling very tired during the day and yawning quite a bit that he sent me for a sleep study. It determined that I had moderate to severe sleep apnea. CPAP therapy was then prescribed and cured me of not only AFib, but also the daytime tiredness and migraine headaches that plagued me for many years.

[maddog55]

If poor sleep can cause a-fib then I obviously don’t have heart.