Counsel #10 — Healthy, Happy Heart

Picture: Counsel #10 — Healthy, Happy HeartCWe 117.1

Beyond its mental benefits, sleep is essential for heart and circulatory health, naturally lowering both heart rate and blood pressure. During NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep, the body enters a restorative phase where hormones responsible for regulating vascular health are balanced. Adequate sleep enables the repair of blood vessels and helps reduce inflammation, significantly lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases.CWe 117.2

On the other hand, sleep deprivation raises the likelihood of stroke, heart disease, insulin resistance, and coronary artery disease. Though life's demands can make it difficult to prioritize rest, we must remember that only God is supernatural. As humans, sleep is crucial for our bodies to function as He designed them to. By embracing this natural rhythm, we honor the way God created us to live, ensuring both our physical and spiritual well-being.^{[128]https://www.adventisthealth.org/blog/2023/january/take-heart-better-sleep-can-be-yours/}CWe 117.3

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 NIVCWe 117.4

“The health of the body depends upon the healthful circulation of the blood. If work is performed without the heart being in it, it is simply drudgery, and the benefit which should result from the exercise is not gained.” Ellen White in The Health Reformer, May 1, 1873, par. 7CWe 117.5

Reflect: Do any of your loved ones suffer from heart or circulatory issues? If so, look at their sleep patterns and consider if their health issues could be directly correlated to poor sleep.CWe 117.6