Study of 230 hypertensive patients, average age 58 years, researchers from the University of Pisa in Italy, found that female patients have a poorer quality of sleep than men. Most participants slept six hours or less each night.
"There are some studies that show a link between the risk of hypertension and insomnia and short sleep duration. However there has been no research that looked at the impact of insomnia on the severity of hypertension," said Rosa Maria Burno, researchers say.
Bruno concluded, insomnia in patients with hypertensive women not only affects the quality of life but also increase blood pressure reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease is greater.
Currently, about 75 million Americans are diagnosed with hypertension, and 50 million people taking antihypertensive medication. But drugs are not always able to control blood pressure.
Hypertension is considered resistant if the patient was taking two or three drugs, but her blood pressure reading is above 140/90 mmHg.
According to Bruno, although the study did not analyze why it is difficult to sleep aggravate hypertension, sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease but very related.
Difficulty sleeping is also associated with obesity and diabetes, which affects the blood pressure-lowering drugs work.
In general, the results of this study emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle to maintain blood pressure, such as by having a healthy sleep pattern and diligent exercise.
