Heart healthy routines such as exercising and eating your fair share of fruits and vegetables are vital. But another healthy habit is equally important: get at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

Poor sleep can lead to high stress hormones. This can accelerate high blood pressure, which is one of the leading cardiovascular risk factors.

High blood pressure can put you at risk for issues such as increased risk of stroke, heart attack and heart failure. 

“Quantity and quality of sleep is important,” said Dr. Jonathan Norton, cardiologist at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital. “If we don’t get both, erratic sleep can become an issue.”

We asked Dr. Norton how to maintain a good sleep routine while also keeping our hearts healthy. His sleep advice includes:

• Establish a routine and stick with it. Keep your bedtime and wakeup times consistent.
• Avoid using electronic devices at bedtime. The blue lights within electronic devices can negatively affect your circadian rhythm, which is your internal clock that sets your levels of alertness and sleepiness within a 24-hour period.
• Avoid eating, drinking and exercising right before going to sleep. Stop those activities at least two to four hours before bed.

Seek help from a professional if you’re waking up with a headache, feeling drowsy throughout the day or falling asleep at odd times, like during a conversation.

Addressing sleep issues will not only make you a more pleasant person throughout the day. It will also keep your heart healthy. 

How healthy is your heart? Take the assessment here.