Medics in treating cardiovascular diseases have warned the public to avoid ‘short sleep duration’, saying that it is linked to hypertension.

Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.

Hypertension can increase the risk of heart, brain, kidney and other diseases.

It is a major cause of premature death worldwide, with upwards of one in four men and one in five women according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The burden of hypertension is felt disproportionately in low- and middle-income countries, where two thirds of cases are found, largely due to increased risk factors.

Evariste Ntaganda, the cardiovascular diseases officer at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), explains short sleep duration.

"Adult persons should sleep from six hours to eight hours on regular time. This means at least from around 22:00 to 4:00 am. If you sleep from 00:00 (am), it doesn’t reduce fatigue and it is the risk factor for hypertension,” he explains.

During the recent World Heart Day celebration under the theme "Use heart to beat cardiovascular diseases and fight COVID-19”, short sleep duration was mentioned among the risk factors.

Prof Joseph Mucumbitsi, a paediatrician and cardiologist and the head of NCD Alliance in Rwanda, says that some studies have shown that each hour of reduced sleep equals an increase in the likelihood of hypertension of around a 1/3.

He added that sleep apnoea is also a challenge.

Sleep apnoea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.

"Obstructive sleep apnoea can increase the risk of heart failure, stroke, coronary heart disease,” he explains.

Other risk factors

There are many risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Medics have urged the public to cut down on sugary beverages and choose water or unsweetened juices instead.

It is also recommended to eat five portions (about a handful each) of fruit and vegetables a day being fresh, frozen, tinned or dried.

"Limit the amount of alcohol you drink,” says Ntaganda, adding that it is better to avoid any quantity of alcohol.

The public is also urged to limit processed and pre-packaged foods that are often high in salt, sugar and fat.

The campaign stresses that within two years of quitting smoking, the risk of coronary heart disease is substantially reduced.

Reducing obesity is said to reduce blood pressure while heavy alcohol consumption is a risk factor for hypertension and diabetes.