Improvements in Knowledge of Sleep and Heart Health: Richard Bogan, MD, FCCP, FAASM

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"We’ve learned a lot more [about sleep], some of it epidemiologically, observational, and in terms of assessing, but what we do know for sure is that sleep is obligatory. The body has these automatic processes that regulate blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, hydration, hunger, feeding, etc. All these fundamental instincts are modulated, to some extent, by sleep."

Not only are sleep disorders becoming a rising concern, studies have shown that poor sleep quality and duration can be associated with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, stroke, and heart attacks. As research continues to grow in this field, many in the field are trying to raise awareness of this link. In late March 2023, Jazz Pharmaceuticals announced an expansion of its support of the American Heart Association to provide the sleep disorder community an in-depth understanding of the cardiovascular risks associated with these disorders.

The support goes toward a dedicated educational website, science advisory panel, patient video series, and strategic alliance across sleep patient advocacy organizations. Through the initiative, the Association aims to help those with sleep disorders determine when professional assistant may be appropriate as well as help healthcare professionals recognize ways to improve heart health for the patients they treat. To learn more about the connections between sleep quality and heart health, NeurologyLive® sat down with Richard Bogan, MD, FCCP, FAASM.

Bogan, medical director of SleepMed, South Carlina, and associate clinical professor at the University of South Caroline School of Medicine, provided perspective on the increase in knowledge in this subject, as well as the importance of sleep quality overall. Above all, he continued to stress the ways sleep effects everyday function.