Scientists have discovered that the heart signals the brain to sleep more after a heart attack. This response is essential for recovery, as restful sleep is “an important factor for heart healing,” according to a new study published in Nature on Wednesday. Sleep helps the body heal by limiting further damage to the heart, lead investigator Cameron McAlpine, assistant professor of cardiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told The Epoch Times.
In contrast, mice with disrupted sleep experienced more serious heart problems, including dangerous heart rhythms and higher mortality rates. Human studies mirrored these findings. Among 78 patients, those who reported good sleep quality in the four weeks after their heart attacks experienced significant improvements in heart function over two years; their hearts could pump blood better, as shown with echocardiography within six months of their leaving the hospital.
They also had fewer serious heart-related problems, such as additional heart attacks or hospital visits. Conversely, people who slept poorly faced a higher risk for additional heart problems and did not show the same improvements, according to the study. A key element of this discovery is how the heart communicates with the brain through immune cells called monocytes.
After a heart attack, these cells move to the brain and produce a molecule called tumor necrosis factor (TNF). This protein activates neurons in the thalamus, a brain region crucial for regu.