Sleeping less than 6 hours a night increases the risk of premature death for people with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke (stroke).
Despite our efforts, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and hypertension problems remain the leading causes of death worldwide. Studies have already recognized that getting enough sleep is an important contributor to good physical and mental health. But the impact of sleep on the conditions mentioned above is still underestimated. Researchers from the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine have looked into the matter. Their work has been published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
For this study the researchers analyzed data from more than 1654 adults aged 20 to 74 (47.5 years of average age, 52.5% women and 47.5% men). These people were separated into two groups:those with stage 2 high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes and those with heart disease or stroke-prone. Their sleeping habits were studied in the laboratory between 1991-1998 and then the researchers followed them until 2016. In the sample, 521 people are deceased.
Several conclusions could thus be made:
– People with high blood pressure or diabetes who slept less than 6 hours had twice the risk to die of heart disease or stroke .
– People who had heart disease or stroke and slept less than 6 hours were three times more likely to die of cancer .
– Finally, the risk of premature death of people with hypertension or diabetes was negligible if he slept more than 6 hours a night .
For researchers the message is clear:"our study suggests that getting normal sleep may protect some people with these health conditions and risks , explains Julio Fernandez-Mendoza. Short sleep duration should therefore be included as a risk factor” .
They also mention the fact that the patients concerned could benefit from targeted treatments to lengthen sleep and thus improve their vital prognosis in the long term. However, more research is needed to determine the extent to which improving and increasing sleep through medical or behavioral therapies can actually reduce the risk of premature death.
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