Insomnia – Although sleep is an essential component of one’s day, it can be tough for some to close their eyes at times.
Insomnia is defined as difficulty going asleep, staying asleep, or receiving quality sleep, and recent study suggests that it may be detrimental for insomniacs.
Other than interfering with daily functioning, a lack of sleep may have an impact on people’s hearts.
The news
Researchers discovered that persons who suffer from sleeplessness had an increased risk of having a heart attack.
According to their report, the most prevalent sleep disturbance affects 10% to 15% of persons in the United States.
The study, which was published in the journal Clinical Cardiology, shows that the probable relationship between insomnia and heart attack is more likely to harm women.
Dr. Martha Gulati, director of prevention at Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Center, stated that the majority of her patients are women, and that sleeplessness is a risk factor for individuals with ischemic heart disease.
Although not being a participant in the study, Gulati shared her thoughts: “Insomnia is actually quite common.”
“We see it probably in 1 in 10 patients in the United States. It is my impression that almost everyone experiences insomnia at some point in their life.”
“The estimate is that 1 in 2 adults experience it at some point in their life, maybe in the short term because of stressful moments.”
Analysis
The analysis of the study draws on more than 11 years of data from 1,184,256 persons in the following countries:
- China
- Germany
- Norway
- Taiwan
- The United States
- The United Kingdom
In order to conduct the study, researchers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the United States classified insomnia as a sleep disorder with three primary symptoms:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Waking up early but restlessness that makes it hard to sleep again
There were 1,030,375 people who did not experience insomnia, whereas 153,881 did.
Researchers discovered that persons who suffered from sleeplessness were 1.69 times more likely to suffer from a heart attack.
Nonetheless, the number of heart attacks was relatively modest, occurring in around 1.6% of those with insomnia and 1.2% of those without insomnia.
Hours of sleep
The study discovered a link between a higher risk of heart attack and how long people slept at night.
Individuals who slept for five hours or less were 1.56 times more likely to have a heart attack than those who slept for seven or eight hours.
More sleep, on the other hand, does not ensure protection.
Those who slept six hours or more each night had a lower risk of having a heart attack, according to the study.
“A lot of studies have pointed somewhere between seven and eight hours of sleep being the magic number for us,” said Gulati.
“There is obviously variability for everyone, but too much sleep is rarely the issue.”
The study found that the risk of having a heart attack in persons who had insomnia remained constant regardless of age or gender.
Read also: Children could get more dangerous illnesses according to new study
How insomnia affects the body
According to Dr. Martha Gulati, there are several ways that a lack of sleep might increase the risk of a heart attack, with a primary focus on cortisol management.
Cortisol is a stress hormone that modulates the body’s reaction.
The higher the stress level, the higher the blood pressure in the body.
People’s blood pressure drops when they receive enough sleep.
“What really happens when you’re not getting enough sleep is that your cortisol gets out of whack,” Gulati explained.
“If you are having sleep problems, we know that your blood pressure is more elevated at night.”
Gulati noted that elevated blood pressure at night due to cortisol imbalance is a possible risk factor for heart disease.
Meanwhile, the authors of the research suggested that sleeplessness be included as a risk factor in guidelines for avoiding cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Hani Aiash, a cardiologist and associate dean of interprofessional research in Upstate Medical University’s College of Health Professions, is one of the study’s senior authors.
He stated that sleep is more useful than most people believe: “Now we have evidence that sleep is medicine. So good sleep is prevention.”
“If you don’t sleep well… below five hours or six hours, you’re exposing yourself to a higher risk of myocardial infarction. The pattern of sleep is very important.”
Aiash, on the other hand, stated that nine hours are superfluous, explaining: “Above nine hours is harmful also.”
Mitigation
After the publication of the report, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested five ways to avoid insomnia:
- Maintain consistent sleep and waking up schedules, including weekends.
- Establish a calm, dark, and soothing ambiance in your bedroom.
- Remove all electronic devices from the room (smartphones, TVs, computers)
- To enhance your chances of getting a good night’s sleep, avoid heavy meals, coffee, and alcohol.
- Keep yourself busy during the day.
The CDC also advises making an appointment with a doctor if your insomnia persists.
Image source: Health
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