Recent Research Indicates Sleep Deprivation and Subpar Sleep Quality May Heighten Inflammation in Women with Heart Disease More Than in Men
A recent study featured in The Journal of Psychiatric Research suggests that women suffering from heart disease may experience more severe inflammation due to inadequate sleep compared to their male counterparts.
The investigation involved nearly 700 individuals with coronary heart disease, averaging 66 years old for men and 64 for women. Their sleep quality and inflammation levels were assessed both at the beginning and the conclusion of a five-year study period.
“Inflammation is a significant indicator of cardiovascular health,” stated study author Aric Prather, Ph.D., a clinical health psychologist and assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco. “We now have proof that poor sleep may play a larger role than previously understood in promoting long-term increases in inflammation and could lead to negative consequences typically associated with inadequate sleep.”
Sleep Deprivation Elevates Heart Disease Risk
The research highlights a correlation between poor sleep quality and the presence of inflammation biomarkers in women that relate to cardiovascular disease and stroke. Specifically, the findings indicate that women who experienced sleep deprivation (defined as less than six hours of sleep per night) exhibited considerably higher inflammation levels than men who had similar sleep patterns.
The researchers also observed that a slightly greater number of women than men reported experiencing poor sleep, characterized by:
– Frequent waking (81 percent of women compared to 78 percent of men)
– Waking up too early (approximately 50 percent of women versus 41 percent of men)
– Difficulty falling asleep (around 33 percent of women against 31 percent of men)
Other Sleep Disorders Linked to Heart Disease Risk
This is not the first instance of poor sleep being connected to factors that elevate the risk of heart disease and stroke, including inflammation and high blood pressure. The American Heart Association has recently published research indicating that sleep apnea disrupts restful sleep and affects conditions like high blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke, and heart failure.
Additionally, prior studies released by the AHA demonstrated that insomnia could significantly increase the risk of heart attacks. A notable finding showed that individuals who frequently struggled to fall asleep had a 45 percent heightened risk of experiencing a heart attack.
Courtesy of the American Heart Association
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