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In a study, researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond found that people who reported one or more symptoms of insomnia had a 16% increased risk of serious illness. The problem was even more severe in people under 50, with those who reported five to eight symptoms having about four times the risk of stroke.
For the study, researchers examined more than 31,000 volunteers with an average age of 61, none of whom had a history of stroke at the start of the study. They were then followed for an average of nine years.
The researchers asked participants how often they had trouble falling asleep, whether they woke up during the night, and whether they woke up early in the morning and had trouble falling asleep. They were also asked how tired they felt in the morning.
The scientists compared these responses by taking into account factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity levels. Over the 10-year period, 2,101 strokes occurred. 1,300 of the strokes were associated with people with one to four symptoms, 436 with five to eight symptoms and 365 with no symptoms.
Scientists say people with one or more symptoms of insomnia are more likely to develop serious illnesses, including heart disease and stroke, than those without these problems. Interestingly, the link was stronger in people under 50.
People who had five to eight symptoms of insomnia were 51 percent more likely to have a stroke, the researchers said. The risk was even higher for people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and depression.
“There are many treatments available to help improve sleep quality; therefore, identifying which sleep problems lead to an increased risk could help with early diagnosis or the use of behavioral treatments for people with sleep difficulties, potentially reducing their risk of later stroke.”
The researchers now hope that with more research in the future they will be able to identify ways to effectively reduce sleep problems and lower the risk of stroke.
Source: Habarfouri
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