Severe headaches, chest pain, dizziness…So many symptoms which can be linked to a high blood pressure (hypertension). The latter “constitutes a major risk factor for cardio-neuro-vascular pathologies”. Certain elements can promote its appearance such as smoking, poor diet or even physical inactivity. But another risk factor has been highlighted by American researchers.
Indeed, according to specialists at Tehran Heart Center Hospital in Iran, sleeping less than seven hours per night is associated with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure over time. The results of this study, which has not yet been published, were presented at the annual scientific session of the American College of Cardiology.
High blood pressure: sleeping less than 7 hours would increase the risk by 7%
To arrive at these results, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis, that is, they scrutinized previous research work. In total, 16 studies were selected, representing a panel of 1,044,035 people spread across six different countries. The latter had no history of high blood pressure at the start of the study. Sleep duration was increased. Likewise, risk factors for hypertension were collected, such as sex, l’IMC, blood pressure or even smoking. The average follow-up was five years.
The researchers then noticed that people sleeping less than seven hours a night presented a increased risk of 7% to develop hypertension. For the one sleeping less than five hoursthis risk reached 11%. But the authors note “there was no difference by age in the association between sleep duration and hypertension”. However, compared to men, women sleeping less than 7 hours had a 7% increased risk of developing hypertension.
High blood pressure: women have a 7% greater risk of developing it
If the specialists recognize that their study did not seek to understand the mechanisms behind lack of sleep and the risk of hypertension, they propose some hypotheses. According to them, “lifestyle habits where the conditions comorbides such as overeating, drinking alcohol, working night shifts, taking certain medications, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea or other sleep disorders can be factors”.
In a press release, the assistant professor of cardiology at Tehran Heart Center Hospital emphasizes that “sleeping too little seems to be riskier in women”, before adding that this is an observation and that it must be studied clinically. The latter call for future research to confirm their results.
Sleep: how to make it easier to fall asleep?
If you have trouble sleeping, certain habits can help. A recent study recalled, for example, that practicing an activity physical during the day allowed you to improve the quality of your nights, while other researchers recently indicated that living in a vegetated environment favored sleep. Diet also has a role to play: recently, dietitian Julie Chenu notably shared a recipe for “banana choco crunch” to eat at the end of the day to help you fall asleep.
There are also more specific methods that would promote sleep. Among them, we find, for example, the “brain tapping”, for “brain tapping”. Also called EFT pour “Emotional Freedom Technique”this method aims to promote relaxation, to release negative emotions and thoughts that can harm sleep.
Source :
- Getting Too Little Sleep Linked to High Blood Pressure – Communiqué de l’American College of Cardiology
