Sleep Issues & Heart Health

Why Good Rest Matters More Than You Think

Sleep isn’t just about feeling rested. It affects your heart, your blood pressure, and your overall health. If you’re not sleeping well, your heart may already be under stress and you may not know it.

At BaleDoneen Method, we look at sleep issues as a key risk factor. We test for root causes, including sleep-related heart issues. Then we help you make changes that protect your arteries and your life.

Why Good Rest Matters More Than You Think

Sleep isn’t just about feeling rested. It affects your heart, your blood pressure, and your overall health. If you’re not sleeping well, your heart may already be under stress and you may not know it.

At BaleDoneen, we look at sleep as a key risk factor. We test for root causes, including sleep-related heart issues. Then we help you make changes that protect your arteries and your life.

How Sleep Affects the Heart

When you sleep, your resting heart rate should go down. Your body slows. Your blood pressure drops. Your heart gets a break.

But if your sleep is poor, this doesn’t happen. Your sleeping heart rate may stay high. You may get heart flutters or wake up feeling panicked. These signs can be linked to bigger problems like hypertension, irregular beats, or even early heart disease.

Common Signs Something’s Off

Some sleep issues are easy to miss. Look out for these:

  • Waking up with a racing heart
  • Feeling short of breath at night
  • Waking often or gasping
  • Feeling tired even after sleeping

  • Morning headaches

  • Heart fluttering while lying down

Many of these can be linked to sleep apnea, GERD, or anxiety-related heart rate spikes.

Sleep Issues

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Apnea means you stop breathing for short periods while sleeping. The most common kind is obstructive apnea. But some people have central apnea, where the brain doesn’t send the right signals to breathe.

In both cases, your oxygen drops. This puts stress on your heart. It can lead to high blood pressure, irregular rhythms, or heart palpitations. Some people also develop tachycardia during pregnancy, which can get worse with sleep trouble.

Heart Rate While Sleeping

A healthy adult usually has a sleeping heart rate between 50 and 70 beats per minute. It should be lower than your day rate.

If your heart rate while sleeping stays high or if it drops too low, you may have an underlying issue. We often find these signs in patients who think their sleep is “normal.”

What About GERD and Anxiety?

GERD, or acid reflux, can also wake you at night. It can feel like pressure in the chest or even mimic heart pain.

Anxiety can do the same. Your heart rate may rise while you sleep. You may wake up with your heart pounding or feel sweaty and alert. These events are common but can put real strain on your system.

How We Help

We don’t just ask if you sleep okay. We dig deeper. At BaleDoneen, we:

  • Ask about your full sleep pattern

  • Check your resting heart rate and sleeping heart beat

  • Look for signs of sleep apnea and central apnea

  • Order heart rhythm tests if needed

  • Track symptoms like heart palpitations and night-time anxiety

If there’s a concern, we act fast. We may suggest sleep studies or other tests. We also help you make real changes with food, movement, and sleep routines.

What You Can Do Tonight

Start with a few small changes:

  • Go to bed at the same time each night
  • Keep your bedroom cool and dark
  • Avoid big meals or caffeine before bed
  • Don’t use your phone in bed
  • Try sleeping on your left side if you have GERD
  • Track your sleep and note any night-time heart symptoms

If your sleeping heart rate seems off, or you wake with a racing pulse, talk to us. It may be a simple fix or a warning worth catching early.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does sleep affect heart health?

Can sleep apnea lead to heart problems?

What is a normal heart rate during sleep?

Why does my heart race at night?

Can sleep disorders cause high blood pressure?