Increased deep sleep benefits your heart

A subject is wearing the deep sleep stimulation system. (Photograph: Stephanie Huwiler & Silvia Hofer / SleepLoop / ETH Zurich) - Stimulating the brain with gentle sounds during deep sleep significantly enhances cardiac function, according to a new study. This discovery could have implications not only for cardiovascular diseases but also for competitive sports, among other areas. Sleep is a vital aspect of human life, with deep sleep being particularly crucial for overall health. The brain recovers during this sleep stage, and the rest of the body seems to regenerate then as well. Recently, researchers at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich have shown that increased deep sleep is of particular benefit to the cardiovascular system: targeted stimulation with brief tones during deep sleep causes the heart - in particular the left ventricle - to contract and relax more vigorously. As a result, it pumps blood into the circulatory system and draws it out again more efficiently.