Synopsis
Inadequate sleep has become increasingly pervasive, and the impact on health and quality of life remains to be fully understood. The cardiovascular consequences alone appear to be substantial and significant. This brief review summarizes epidemiologic evidence regarding the association between extremes of sleep duration and the prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular diseases. The adverse effects of experimental sleep loss on physiological functions are discussed, along with those cardiovascular risk factors that may underlie the association with increased morbidity and mortality. Current data support the concept that inadequate sleep duration confers heightened cardiovascular risk. Thus implementation of preventative strategies may be needed to reduce the potential disease burden associated with this widespread high-risk behavior.