Lack of sleep linked to heart disease
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2008 01:00
A good night's sleep: Good for the heart
Iraq In Focus
Six years have passed since Saddam Hussein was ousted from power in Baghdad. Full Story
Sleeping less than seven-and-a-half hours a night could increase the risk of heart disease, a report out today warns.
The study, published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine journal, also states lack of sleep combined with overnight elevated blood pressure can increase the chances of getting heart disease.
Kazuo Eguchi, who carried out the study concluded: "Shorter duration of sleep is a predictor of incident cardiovascular disease in elderly individuals with hypertension."
He suggested physicians should inquire about sleep duration when assessing risk for patients with hypertension.
The study saw 1,255 individuals with hypertension monitored and were followed for around 50 months, with sleep duration, daytime and night time blood pressure and events like strokes, heart attacks and death being followed.
During follow-up 99 cardiovascular events occurred, with 2.4 individuals per 100 who slept for less than 7.5 hours suffered cardiovascular diseases compared with 1.8 per 100 who had a longer sleep duration.
Those who had less sleep and overnight increases in blood pressure had higher incidences of heart disease.
The study has blamed changing lifestyles for the findings. It concludes that adequate sleep is essential in combating health conditions like obesity and diabetes.