A new study has found that sleep problems are strongly linked to high blood pressure in women who have gone through menopause.
The research was published online in the journal Menopause and adds to growing evidence that sleep and heart health are closely connected—especially for older women.
The study was led by Dr. Zhaoyi Liu from Chongqing Medical University in China. The research team used health data from 3,560 women in the United States who were naturally postmenopausal. These women were part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 and 2018.
The researchers looked at different sleep problems, including trouble sleeping and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
They found that both trouble sleeping and OSA were linked to a higher chance of having high blood pressure. Women who reported trouble sleeping had a 61% higher risk, and those with OSA had a 63% higher risk, compared to women without these issues.
Another key finding was the relationship between sleep duration and blood pressure. It turned out that both too little sleep and too much sleep were linked to increased risk. This U-shaped pattern means that getting the right amount of sleep—not too short and not too long—is important for heart health.
The study also found that body weight influenced the results. Women with obesity were more likely to show a strong connection between poor sleep and high blood pressure. In other words, sleep problems had a bigger impact on blood pressure in women who were overweight.
Dr. Monica Christmas, associate medical director for The Menopause Society, noted that while the study cannot prove that sleep problems directly cause high blood pressure, it does highlight how important sleep and healthy weight are for women after menopause.
She emphasized that improving sleep quality and managing weight can help reduce long-term heart risks.
This study serves as a reminder that sleep is not just about feeling rested. It plays a major role in health, especially for postmenopausal women who may already face a higher risk of heart disease. Paying attention to sleep habits and weight management during and after menopause may be key to maintaining good blood pressure and overall health.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about potatoes and high blood pressure, and top 10 choices for a blood pressure-friendly diet
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about impact of vitamins on high blood pressure you need to know, and the powerful link between high blood pressure and a potassium-rich diet.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
