ISLAMABAD, March 29 (Online): Researchers are reporting that the fewer hours a person sleeps, the higher their risk of high blood pressure.Evidence linking less sleep to hypertension isn\u2019t new, but conclusions have been inconsistent in the past.
\nThe risk of high blood pressure is greater in women who sleep less.
\nSleeping fewer than 7 hours a night is associated with a higher risk of high blood pressureTrusted Source over time, according to a new study.<\/p>\n
The findings, which haven\u2019t been published yet in a peer-reviewed journal, are being presented at the American College of Cardiology\u2019s Annual Scientific Session.The study authors acknowledged the association between sleep patterns and high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, isn\u2019t necessarily a revelation.<\/p>\n
However, they said evidence of the connection has been inconsistent in the past.
\nDetails from the study on sleep and high blood pressure
\nThe researchers looked at data from 16 studies done between January 2000 and May 2023.<\/p>\n
The information involved incidences of hypertension in 1,044,035 people in six countries who didn\u2019t have a history of high blood pressure over follow-up periods ranging from 2 to 18 years (with a median of 5 years).<\/p>\n
The researchers reported that those sleeping for shorter periods had a significantly higher risk of developing hypertension, even after adjusting for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors that included smoking, blood pressure, body mass, education, gender, and age.<\/p>\n
The association was even stronger for people getting fewer than five hours of sleep.<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on the most updated data, the less you sleep \u2014 that is less than seven hours a day \u2014 the more likely you will develop high blood pressure in the future,\u201d said Dr. Kaveh Hosseini, the study\u2019s principal investigator and an assistant professor of cardiology at the Tehran Heart Center in Iran, in a statement. \u201cWe saw a trend between longer sleep durations and a greater occurrence of high blood pressure, but it was not statistically significant. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep, as is recommended by sleep experts, may be the best for your heart, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
The research team reported that sleeping fewer than 7 hours was associated with a 7% increased risk of developing high blood pressure. That number increased to 11% when sleep duration was less than 5 hours.<\/p>\n
Hosseini said the team compared that to the effects of diabetes and smoking, which they said are known to increase a person\u2019s risk of hypertension by at least 20%.<\/p>\n
Hosseini said that while researchers didn\u2019t specifically look at possible causes, disrupted sleep could be to blame.<\/p>\n
He said other factors could include sleep disorders such as sleep apnea as well as depression, anxiety, use of certain medications, alcohol, nightshift work, overeating, or other lifestyle habits.<\/p>\n
High blood pressure risk greater for females
\nThe study participants\u2019 ages ranged from 35 years to 61 years. More than half (61%) were female.<\/p>\n
Females reporting fewer than 7 hours of sleep had a 7% greater risk of developing high blood pressure.<\/p>\n
The researchers expressed surprise they didn\u2019t find age-based differences in the association between sleep duration and hypertension, as sleep patterns frequently shift as people age.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting too little sleep appears to be riskier in females,\u201d Hosseini said. \u201cThe difference is statistically significant, though we are not sure it\u2019s clinically significant and should be further studied. What we do see is that lack of good sleep patterns may increase the risk of high blood pressure, which we know can set the stage for heart disease and stroke.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team said the study has limitations, including the data being self-reported so changes in sleep duration over the follow-up period weren\u2019t assessed. There were also variations in the definitions of short sleep duration between the studies (fewer than 5 or 6 hours).<\/p>\n
\u201cFurther research is required to evaluate the association between sleep duration and high blood pressure using more accurate methods such as polysomnography, a method for evaluating sleep quality more precisely,\u201d Hosseini said. \u201cMoreover, the variations in reference sleep duration underline the need for standardized definition in sleep research to enhance the comparability and generalizability of findings across diverse studies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Experts react to sleep and hypertension risk study
\nDr. Cheng-Han Chen, an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in California, told Medical News Today more research needs to be done to determine why women have a higher risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs poor sleep is thought to increase stress hormones that can increase blood pressure, it is possible that women have a heightened stress response to sleep disruption,\u201d said Chen, who wasn\u2019t involved in the study.<\/p>\n
Susan Miller is a certified sleep expert and lead researcher at SleepMattressHQ.com, a site dedicated to helping people attain better sleep.<\/p>\n
Miller, who wasn\u2019t involved in the study, told Medical News Today that the higher risk in women could be attributed to hormonal factors, \u201cparticularly fluctuations in estrogen levels, which may influence sleep patterns and cardiovascular health differently.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWomen are more likely to experience sleep disturbances related to hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause,\u201d she said. \u201cSocial and environmental factors also add to the factors like caregiving responsibilities and work-related stress that affect women\u2019s sleep quality and quantity. all these contribute to increased hypertension risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chen added that the importance of sleep on overall health is becoming clearer as more research looks at the effects of low-quality sleep.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, there is still much that we do not understand regarding the mechanisms by which poor sleep impacts health outcomes,\u201d he said. \u201cSome healthy sleep habits are keeping the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, going to sleep around the same time each day, getting regular exercise during the day, and avoiding naps in the afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, a consultant cardiologist at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in California, told Medical News Today that adequate sleep allows the body to rest and repair itself.<\/p>\n
\u201c(It also) is regulating hormones that influence blood pressure, inflammation, and blood sugar levels, all of which are critically important for heart health,\u201d said Tadwalkar, who wasn\u2019t involved in the study.<\/p>\n
He suggested a number of ways for people to improve their sleep.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaintain a consistent sleep schedule,\u201d Tadwalkar advised. \u201cTo guarantee a more restful night, adhere to a steady sleep routine. Consistency is key. Going to bed and waking up at the same times daily, including on the weekends, contributes to regulating your internal clock, resulting in enhanced sleep quality.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf necessary, resist the temptation to oversleep by more than an hour beyond your regular waking time, as this practice supports the stability of your sleep patterns,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Tadwalkar said it\u2019s important to create a relaxing bedtime routine.<\/p>\n
\u201cRethink your pre-sleep activities. Steer clear of stimulating pursuits like screen time before bedtime,\u201d he recommended. \u201cInstead, embrace calming rituals such as reading a book or practicing relaxation techniques to signal to your body that it\u2019s time to wind down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tadwalkar said optimizing your sleep environment also helps.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep the room cool, dark, and quiet to enhance the sleep environment,\u201d he advised \u201cGet rid of noise and light sources to the greatest extent possible and tweak the temperature to create an ideal setting for a peaceful night\u2019s sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
And if difficulties persist, Tadwalkar said it\u2019s important to consult with a healthcare professional for further evaluation and personalized advice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can assist in identifying any underlying causes of sleep problems and recommend the most appropriate treatment options. Particularly, consider seeking help from a sleep medicine doctor, who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders,\u201d Tadwalkar said. \u201cSleep medicine doctors have the expertise to conduct specialized tests, develop tailored treatment plans, and provide guidance for long-term sleep health.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, March 29 (Online): Researchers are reporting that the fewer hours a person sleeps, the higher their risk of high blood pressure.Evidence linking less sleep to hypertension isn\u2019t new, but conclusions have been inconsistent in the past. The risk of high blood pressure is greater […]<\/p>\n
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