A recent study by the University of Pittsburgh found a clear association between continuously high insomnia symptoms and a 70% increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women. Insufficient sleep is linked to poor mood and life quality. However, this research demonstrates that middle-aged sleep patterns are critical to future heart problems, especially in women.
Women die more from cardiovascular illness, thus disturbed sleep and cardiac health were to be examined, especially in midlife. At 22 years midlife, 2,517 women who slept up to 16 times were studied. The most disturbing conclusion was that persons who slept less than seven hours a night or poorly were at a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, and myocardial infarction.
The study found that 25% of participants with persistently significant insomnia symptoms had a 70% increased risk of cardiovascular disease events. Strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, and coronary artery disease were 72% more likely among women who slept fewer than five hours every night. The risk of cardiovascular disease events was even higher for patients with long-term high insomnia and short sleep i.e., at 75%.
The study found that poor sleep quality raises blood pressure and disrupts the body’s rhythm, increasing heart risk. Co-author Rebecca Thurston noted that many mid-life women have poor sleep and that treating insomnia improves cardiovascular health.
This study adds to the growing body of evidence between sleep and cardiovascular disease, emphasizing the importance of sleep concerning heart health. The various health benefits of sleep were also supported by early studies linking sleep patterns to cardiovascular issues.
