A new study shows that sleep problems are closely linked to high blood pressure in postmenopausal women in the United States.
The research was published in the journal Menopause and adds to growing evidence that sleep health is an important part of heart health, especially for women after menopause.
The study was led by Dr. Zhaoyi Liu and a team from Chongqing Medical University in China. They used health data collected from 2007 to 2018 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
This large survey includes health information from people across the U.S. The researchers focused on 3,560 women who had gone through menopause naturally.
Menopause is a natural part of aging for women, marking the end of menstrual cycles. It usually happens between ages 45 and 55. After menopause, hormone levels change, and these changes can affect sleep and heart health.
In the study, the researchers found that women who had trouble sleeping were 61% more likely to have high blood pressure than those who didn’t report sleep problems. Women with signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition where breathing stops and starts during sleep, were also 63% more likely to have high blood pressure.
The study also found that how long women slept mattered. There was a U-shaped link between sleep time and high blood pressure. This means that sleeping too little or too much both raised the risk of hypertension. Women who slept either very few or very many hours were more likely to have high blood pressure than those who slept a moderate amount.
Body weight made these sleep-related risks worse. The effect of poor sleep or sleep apnea on blood pressure was stronger in women with obesity. This means that women who are overweight and have sleep issues may face an even greater risk of developing high blood pressure.
Dr. Monica Christmas, a menopause specialist and associate medical director for The Menopause Society, said that while the study doesn’t prove that sleep problems directly cause high blood pressure, it still sends an important message.
She said it’s crucial for women going through or after menopause to focus on getting better sleep and keeping a healthy weight. These two things could help protect their heart in the long run.
This study highlights the importance of sleep as part of overall health, especially during and after menopause. Good sleep habits, regular physical activity, stress management, and weight control could make a big difference for heart health.
In conclusion, while more research is needed to understand the exact cause-and-effect relationship, the findings show that sleep quality and weight management should be top priorities for postmenopausal women. Taking care of sleep may be a simple but powerful way to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and other heart-related problems later in life.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about breakfast for better blood pressure management, and the gut feeling that lowers blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how the dash diet helps lower blood pressure, and how to eat your way to healthy blood pressure.
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