Increased stroke risk due to insomnia

Chronic sleep disorders lead to an increased risk of stroke

04/04/2014

The risk of stroke is significantly increased by insomnia. In particular, younger adults between the ages of 18 and 34 are more likely to have a stroke if they do not find restful sleep at night, Taiwanese researchers report in the journal „Stroke“ the American Heart Association. Overall, the risk of stroke has increased by up to 54 percent due to insomnia.

The researchers from Taiwan evaluated the randomly selected patient records of 21,000 patients with sleep disorders and 64,000 people without sleep disorders. Researchers at the Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science and the Institute of Medical Research at the Chi-Mei Medical Center in Taiwan found that insomnia dramatically increases the risk of stroke, especially among young adults. In the evaluated observation period of four years, the „Stroke incidence for 18 to 34-year-olds with insomnia eight times higher“ located than the other subjects. At the age of 35, however, this increased risk had dropped significantly. The likelihood of hospitalized stroke is increased by 54 percent in patients with insomnia.

Insomnia with effects on cardiovascular health
Although the connection between insomnia and strokes, according to the researchers so far not fully understood. However, there is ample evidence that insomnia can affect cardiovascular health through systemic inflammation, impaired glucose tolerance, increased blood pressure, or sympathetic hyperactivity, study author Ya-Wen Hsu and colleagues report. In particular, younger people with chronic sleep disorders should ask their doctor for an assessment of the stroke risk factors and, if appropriate, treat them accordingly, the researchers recommend. „Our results highlight the clinical significance of screening for insomnia in younger age groups“ and make it clear that one „Treating insomnia, even through medication or cognitive therapy, is very important“, so Ya-wen Hsu on.

Know the personal stroke risk
Not only did the researchers find a link between chronic sleep disorders and the risk of stroke in the data analysis, but also discovered possible indications that concomitant diabetes leads to an additional increase in risk. Those affected should know their individual risk and insomnia is not a harmless, if annoying, problem aside, emphasized the study author Hsu. Here's one „medical evaluation, which also takes into account other potential risk factors that may also contribute to stroke.“ (Fp)