Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Most people know that factors like poor diet, lack of exercise, and smoking can increase this risk.
However, a new study suggests that sleep problems may be just as important, especially when more than one issue occurs at the same time.
Researchers from Yale School of Medicine have found that people who suffer from both insomnia and sleep apnea face a much higher risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Their findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
The study included data from nearly one million U.S. veterans. This large sample helped researchers understand how sleep patterns affect health over time.
Insomnia and sleep apnea are both common conditions. Insomnia affects the ability to fall asleep or stay asleep, while sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing during the night. Each condition alone can harm health, but the study shows that having both together is especially dangerous.
This combined condition is known as COMISA. People with COMISA were found to have a much higher risk of cardiovascular problems compared to those with only one sleep disorder.
The reason for this may be linked to how sleep affects the body. During sleep, the heart and blood vessels get a chance to rest and recover. This process is essential for maintaining healthy blood pressure and circulation.
When sleep is repeatedly interrupted, the body cannot complete this recovery process. Breathing pauses from sleep apnea and frequent awakenings from insomnia both disturb the body’s natural rhythm. Over time, this can lead to stress on the heart and increased risk of disease.
The researchers emphasize that sleep should be treated as a key part of overall health, not just a secondary issue. Many people ignore sleep problems or treat them separately, but this study shows that a more complete approach is needed.
They suggest that doctors should check for both insomnia and sleep apnea together, rather than focusing on just one. Early treatment of these conditions may help reduce the risk of heart disease before it becomes serious.
This study also highlights the importance of prevention. Instead of waiting until people develop heart disease, healthcare systems should focus more on early warning signs such as poor sleep.
If you care about sleep health, please read studies about foods that help people sleep better, and Keto diet could improve cognitive function in people with sleep loss.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the natural supplements for sound sleep, and how your diet can improve sleep quality.
Source: Yale School of Medicine.
