Insomnia may significantly increase stroke risk

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-04/aha-ims033114.php

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 3-Apr-2014
Contact: Bridgette McNeill
American Heart Association

Insomnia may significantly increase stroke risk

American Heart Association Rapid Access Journal Report

The risk of stroke may be much higher in people with insomnia compared to those who don't have trouble sleeping, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.

The risk also seems to be far greater when insomnia occurs as a young adult compared to those who are older, said researchers who reviewed the randomly-selected health records of more than 21,000 people with insomnia and 64,000 non-insomniacs in Taiwan.

They found:

• Insomnia raised the likelihood of subsequent hospitalization for stroke by 54 percent over four years.

• The incidence of stroke¬ was eight times higher among those diagnosed with insomnia between 18-34 years old. Beyond age 35, the risk continually decreased.

• Diabetes also appeared to increase the risk of stroke in insomniacs.

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The mechanism linking insomnia to stroke is not fully understood, but evidence shows that insomnia may alter cardiovascular health via systematic inflammation, impaired glucose tolerance, increased blood pressure or sympathetic hyperactivity. Some behavioral factors (e.g., physical activity, diet, alcohol use and smoking) and psychological factors like stress might affect the observed relationship.

The researchers said it's unclear if the findings also apply to people in other nations, but studies in other countries have also pointed to a relationship between insomnia and stroke.