Women Who Sleep Less More Prone To Cardiovascular Diseases: Study

Poor sleep and cardiovascular diseases are the major health issues for women, with cardiovascular diseases being the leading cause of death in women. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, sleep duration and insomnia symptoms over midlife have a direct impact on the increased risks of cardiovascular events such as heart attack, strokes and heart failure in women.

As per the University of Pittsburgh website, the team led by Rebecca Thurston, PhD, analysed data from participants in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Under this, a total of 2,517 women’s sleep schedules and duration were assessed up to 16 times over 22 years during their midlife. The study was recently published in a special issue of circulation devoted to women’s heart health.

At each of the 16 visits, the participants noted the frequency of their sleep problems over two weeks and reported the occurrence of cardiovascular disease events in their lives. The four follow-up assessments reported their typical daily sleep duration over the preceding months.

Upon observation, the investigators found out that women who are suffering from high insomnia symptoms, which is almost one in four women studied over the past two decades, develop the risk of cardiovascular events by 70 per cent. Whereas, for women who have persistently high insomnia, accompanied by short sleep are at 75 per cent risk of cardiovascular diseases. The blood pressure of these women also tends to increase with time.

“These findings underscore both the prevalence of insufficient sleep at midlife in women as well as the importance of insomnia to women’s cardiovascular health over midlife,” said Dr. Thurston. With the accumulated data, Dr Thurston also stressed the importance of treating insomnia to support women’s health.

To prevent or cure insomnia, it is advised to take the help of meditation and yoga to calm the body and mind. According to Healthline, If you exercise for 150 minutes a week, the problem of insomnia starts getting cured. You must include magnesium-rich food in your diet and have dinner 2 hours before sleeping. It is also advised to visit your nearby doctor if the problem of insomnia persists for more than a month.