Importance
Sleep and Heart Health forms part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar, a coordinated program of national public education presented by The Sleep Society to improve sleep health awareness across Canada.
Healthy sleep plays an important role in cardiovascular health. Insufficient sleep, poor sleep quality and untreated sleep disorders are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and stroke. Sleep also interacts with important cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, obesity and metabolic health. By encouraging Canadians to recognize healthy sleep as an important component of heart health, this initiative aims to strengthen prevention, increase awareness of sleep disorders and promote better lifelong health.
Sleep and Heart Health is observed throughout February as part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar. The initiative promotes greater public understanding of the relationship between healthy sleep and cardiovascular health, encouraging sleep to be recognized as an important component of lifelong heart health, disease prevention and overall wellbeing.
For many years, public discussion about cardiovascular prevention concentrated primarily on exercise, diet, smoking, cholesterol and blood pressure. These remain critically important, but advances in sleep and cardiovascular medicine have strengthened our understanding that sleep also deserves a place in the conversation. Sleep duration, sleep quality, circadian health and disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea can all influence cardiovascular health. Recognizing sleep alongside established cardiovascular risk factors provides another opportunity to protect health throughout life.
Why it matters
Cardiovascular disease remains one of Canada’s leading causes of illness and death. Sleep is increasingly recognized as an important component of cardiovascular health, alongside established factors such as physical activity, nutrition, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose.
Both inadequate sleep and sleep disorders can affect cardiovascular health. Obstructive sleep apnea, for example, is associated with hypertension, cardiovascular disease and stroke, yet many people remain undiagnosed. Greater recognition of the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular health provides an important opportunity to encourage prevention, support appropriate treatment and improve long-term health outcomes.
Where to find information and support
Looking for more information or guidance? Start with our Partners. They may offer specialist knowledge, educational resources, practical guidance or links to appropriate services. Our Endorsers, Supporters and Sponsors also offer valuable resources and support. Explore the organizations below and take your next step toward better sleep and a healthier heart.
Want to get involved?
Help raise awareness of the initiative by sharing information, encouraging healthy sleep and supporting greater public understanding of the important relationship between sleep and cardiovascular health.
February initiative
Part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar, a year-round program of public education and awareness.
Who’s involved
Endorsers, partners, supporters and sponsors
Organizations and individuals helping Sleep and Heart Health reach Canadians. Use the filters to view each type of involvement.
Endorsers
Our Endorsers are recognized organizations and institutions that publicly support the aims of SleepSafeCanada, helping establish the importance of healthy sleep across Canada.
Endorsement offers an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to public health, strengthen awareness within their fields and contribute to a coordinated national initiative, without financial or active participation requirements.
Their endorsement strengthens the initiative’s credibility and helps bring greater recognition to the importance of healthy sleep.
Partners
Our Partners actively contribute their established expertise, research, educational resources and practical guidance, helping Canadians better understand sleep and access reliable information, appropriate guidance and practical support.
In return, SleepSafeCanada offers Partners a national platform to share their expertise, advocate for greater recognition of the relationship between sleep and their particular field, extend the reach of their resources and connect with Canadians seeking relevant information and support.
SleepSafeCanada provides the platform; our Partners provide the expertise and resources that make it valuable.
Supporters
Our Supporters help spread awareness of healthy sleep through their communities, professional networks, workplaces and educational activities. By sharing information, promoting initiatives and encouraging public engagement, they help carry the message of sleep health to more Canadians.
In return, SleepSafeCanada recognizes their contribution and connects their efforts with a broader national public-health initiative.
Our Supporters extend the reach of sleep health education, helping turn awareness into action.
Sponsors
Our Sponsors provide financial or in-kind contributions that help develop, maintain and expand SleepSafeCanada’s educational resources and national awareness initiatives.
In return, SleepSafeCanada offers appropriate recognition and an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the health, wellbeing and safety of Canadians.
Our Sponsors help make these resources possible, while SleepSafeCanada maintains its editorial independence.
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More from SleepSafe
SleepSafeCanada
SleepSafeCanada
SleepSafeCanada promotes public awareness of the importance of healthy sleep through Canada’s Sleep Calendar, national education campaigns, community engagement and public health initiatives that encourage healthier, safer and more productive lives.
Canada’s interdisciplinary sleep health community
The Sleep Society
The Sleep Society brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, organizations and industry to advance sleep health through collaboration, education and research. Visitors can explore professional education, connect with Canada’s growing interdisciplinary sleep health community and locate healthcare professionals with an interest in sleep health.
Trusted information
A Better Sleep
For additional public information, articles and downloadable resources relating to this initiative, please visit abettersleep.net. The site provides trusted, evidence-based information to help people better understand healthy sleep, sleep disorders and the lifelong importance of healthy sleep.
Strategic Technology Partner
Web Hosting Canada
The Sleep Society has selected Web Hosting Canada as its Strategic Technology Partner, supporting the continued development, delivery and national growth of this initiative while helping build the digital infrastructure needed to support future collaboration across Canada.
Support Sleep and Heart Health
Thank you for your interest in making Canada a healthier and safer place to live.