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Recent Research Indicates That Lack of Sleep and Poor Sleep Quality May Elevate Inflammation in Women with Heart Disease More Than in Men
Women with heart conditions could be more vulnerable to elevated inflammation levels linked to inadequate sleep compared to men, suggests a recent study featured in The Journal of Psychiatric Research.
The research analyzed nearly 700 individuals diagnosed with coronary heart disease, averaging 66 years in age for men and 64 for women. Their sleep quality and inflammation markers were assessed at the beginning and conclusion of a five-year study period.
“Inflammation is a recognized indicator of cardiovascular health,” stated Aric Prather, Ph.D., a clinical health psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. “We now have evidence suggesting that inadequate sleep may play a larger role than previously understood in causing long-term increases in inflammation levels, thereby contributing to the adverse effects often associated with poor sleep.”
Sleep Deprivation Heightens Heart Disease Risk
The study uncovered a link between inferior sleep quality and women exhibiting “biomarkers” for inflammation related to heart disease and strokes. Notably, it found that women who experienced sleep deprivation (those getting less than six hours of sleep per night) had significantly higher inflammation levels than men with similar sleep patterns.
Researchers observed that a slightly greater proportion of women reported experiencing poor sleep, including:
- Frequent awakenings (81% of women versus 78% of men)
- Waking up too early (approximately 50% of women compared to 41% of men)
- Difficulty falling asleep (around 33% of women as opposed to 31% of men)
Other Sleep Disorders Linked to Heart Disease Risk
This study is not the first to associate poor sleep with factors that heighten the risk of heart disease and strokes, such as inflammation and elevated blood pressure. The American Heart Association recently published findings indicating that sleep apnea disrupts restful sleep and adversely affects high blood pressure, arrhythmia, strokes, and heart failure.
Additionally, previous AHA research revealed that insomnia could moderately increase heart attack risk. A significant finding from this study indicated that individuals who struggled with falling asleep nearly every day had a 45% increased risk of experiencing a heart attack.
Courtesy of American Heart Association
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