Poor sleep and cardiovascular disease are the top causes of death in women. According to a recent University of Pittsburgh study, sleep duration and insomnia symptoms in women over the age of 50 are directly related to an elevated risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
According to the University of Pittsburgh website, a team lead by Rebecca Thurston, PhD, analyzed data from participants in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. A total of 2,517 women’s sleep schedules and durations were measured up to 16 times over the course of 22 years during their midlife. The study was recently published in a circulation special edition focusing on women’s heart health.
At each of the 16 sessions, participants recorded the frequency of their sleep issues over two weeks and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease events in their life. The four follow-up examinations reported their average daily sleep duration for the previous months.
The research discovered that women with severe insomnia symptoms, which account for nearly one in every four women investigated over the last two decades, have a 70% increased risk of cardiovascular events. Women who suffer from continuous insomnia and little sleep are 75 percent more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. These women’s blood pressures also tend to rise over time.
“These findings underscore both the prevalence of insufficient sleep at midlife in women as well as the importance of insomnia to women’s cardiovascular health over midlife,” Dr. Thurston stated. Dr. Thurston emphasized the need of treating insomnia to improve women’s health based on the available facts.
Meditation and yoga are said to help prevent or cure insomnia by calming the body and mind. According to Healthline, exercising for 150 minutes a week can help cure insomnia. You must include magnesium-rich foods in your diet and eat dinner two hours before bedtime. It is also recommended that you see your local doctor if your sleeplessness lasts more than a month.
Reference Article- Women Who Sleep Less More Prone To Cardiovascular Diseases: Study