Researchers found a concerning link between irregular sleep patterns and high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
In their large-scale study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Hypertension, a team of researchers analysed sleep data from over 12,000 adults around the world, shedding light on how inconsistent sleep schedules can negatively impact our heart health.
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How Does Irregular Sleep Affect Your Blood Pressure?
The study found that irregular sleep duration and inconsistent bedtimes are associated with a higher risk of developing hypertension. Participants who had more variability in their sleep schedules were more likely to have elevated blood pressure levels.
For example:
A 34-minute variation in the time participants fell asleep was linked to a 32% increase in the likelihood of having high blood pressure.
Similar patterns were observed with variations in sleep midpoint and wake-up times.
These findings suggest that not only how much sleep you get but also the regularity of your sleep schedule is crucial for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.
Further reading: 10 simple tips to improve sleep quality (Universal-Sci)
Who Is Most at Risk?
The study primarily looked at middle-aged adults, with an average age of 50 and the majority of the participants were men. Overweight individuals also showed a higher prevalence of hypertension linked to irregular sleep patterns. However, these insights are relevant for everyone, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.
What the Research Tells Us
The researchers used under-mattress devices to monitor sleep patterns and blood pressure over several months. This approach provided detailed and long-term insights into how sleep irregularity can affect cardiovascular health.
By understanding the impact of sleep patterns on health, this study highlights the importance of regular sleep schedules as a potentially modifiable risk factor for hypertension. These findings could lead to new recommendations for improving heart health through better sleep practices.
Sources and further reading:
Ten simple tips to improve sleep quality (Universal-Sci)
Research finds that we really do need more sleep during winter (Universal-Sci)
The way you sleep could predict the onset of Alzheimer's Disease (Universal-Sci)
Daylight saving time vs. standard time, which is better for our sleep? (Universal-Sci)
Sleep Irregularity Is Associated With Hypertension: Findings From Over 2 Million Nights With a Large Global Population Sample (Hypertension)
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