- Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, and sleep deprivation is a major health problem for women, especially middle-aged women.
- A new study has found that long-term sleep problems and heart disease are closely linked in women.
- Women with chronic insomnia or who slept less than five hours a night had an increased risk of heart disease.
The sleep habits you develop mid-life can have a big impact on your future heart health, according to new research.
of
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women, and sleep deprivation is a major health problem for women, especially middle-aged women.
Previous studies have investigated how a lack of sleep at night is associated with the development of heart disease, but it remains unclear how long-term sleep problems affect heart disease risk. It was unknown.
This new finding suggests that long-term sleep problems and heart disease are closely linked and highlights the need to improve heart disease prevention efforts in women.
“More women will die from heart disease than from cancer. By controlling risk factors, we can actually prevent heart disease in women,” says Eleanor Levin, a cardiologist at Stanford University. he told Healthline.
Researchers assessed the sleep habits and health status of 2,964 women between the ages of 42 and 52.
Participants were premenopausal or early perimenopausal, did not use hormone therapy, and did not have heart disease.
Over 22 years, participants completed up to 16 visits and completed questionnaires about their sleep habits, including whether they had symptoms of insomnia, how long they usually slept, mental health issues such as depression, and vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes. I answered. .
The questionnaire also included questions regarding anthropometric measurements such as height and weight, blood draws, and cardiac events such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure.
Approximately one in four women regularly experience symptoms of insomnia, such as difficulty falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, or waking up earlier than expected, and 14% frequently experience short sleep times. I was troubled by this.
Approximately 7% reported habitual insomnia symptoms and short sleep duration.
Researchers have found that people with chronic severe insomnia symptoms have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life.
Additionally, women who regularly slept less than five hours a night had a slightly higher risk of heart disease.
People with persistent symptoms of severe insomnia who slept less than five hours a night had a 75% higher risk of heart disease, even when researchers adjusted for CVD risk factors.
Researchers say the findings highlight the impact that long-term sleep problems can have on women’s heart health.
There are multiple explanations for why sleep deprivation impairs heart function over time.
“Sleep deprivation can negatively impact heart health through a combination of mechanisms, including increased sympathetic nervous system activity, dysregulated autonomic nervous system activity, and increased systemic inflammation.” Interventional Heart said Dr. Chen-Han Chen, specialist and medical director. Structural Cardiac Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California.
Poor sleep quality is associated with increased risk of high blood pressure and insulin resistance, which are risk factors for heart disease.
“Lack of sleep can worsen high blood pressure, lead to poor eating habits high in carbohydrates and sugar, and worsen prediabetes and cholesterol,” Professor Levin says.
Additionally, many people with insomnia also have sleep apnea, which is a known risk factor for heart disease.
Women have different symptoms of heart disease than men and are less likely to receive appropriate treatment.
Chen says it’s essential for the medical community to address women’s sleep issues as part of overall cardiovascular health care.
Experts say it is necessary to achieve a goal of approx.
- Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet
- avoid caffeine and alcohol
- Maintain a consistent sleep and wake schedule
- regular exercise
- Avoid stimulants such as caffeine in the afternoon
People with sleep apnea may be prescribed medication to treat insomnia or use a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine.
“To improve their health status, we need to pay special attention to preventing potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and sleep deprivation,” Chen said.
Long-term sleep problems may increase your risk of heart disease later in life, according to new research. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, and the new findings highlight the need to improve efforts to prevent heart disease in women.
