Poor Sleep, Higher Blood Pressure?
Could poor sleep raise blood pressure? Possibly, according to a recent study by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which found a connection between insomnia symptoms and hypertension in women. The research indicates that women experiencing sleep difficulties are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure. The study, part of a larger investigation that followed 66,122 women over 16 years, found that those with insufficient sleep (less than seven to eight hours per night) and those struggling with falling and staying asleep had an increased risk of hypertension. The exact mechanism behind this relationship isn’t yet clear but is believed to involve several contributing factors, including sodium retention, arterial stiffness, and disruptions to the sleep-wake cycle. The findings underscore the importance of quality sleep for overall well-being and may prompt further investigations into the potential benefits of sleep medications on blood pressure.
Source
ahajournals/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.123.21350
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