A recent study pointed out that there was a noticeable correlation between people who suffer from insomnia and those that develop heart disease. Although this was not the first study of its kind, it did shed some new light on the subject. Past studies have been unable to confirm whether insomnia is a cause of heart disease, whether it is just a symptom that can occur because of a previously existing issue, or whether or not it is a coincidence. This new study hoped to get to the bottom of this debate.
Researchers found that there were a number of shared gene variants amongst those that had insomnia. These variants had previously been identified as risk factors for ischemic stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart failure. In other words, some of the same genetic risk factors that cause insomnia also can be a factor in heart disease.
Insomnia impacts about 30 percent of the U.S. population at any given time. Some people have it for extended periods of time while it is more intermittent for others. Luckily, there are a lot of things that can be done to improve sleep–even if insomnia is present. The researchers behind this study believe that just taking steps to help improve sleep can reduce the risk of heart disease. However, there’s a lot that still needs to be learned before this can be established. More research is necessary, but at least there’s now a better direction to go. Hopefully, the risk of heart disease can be reduced as more is learned.
This study was conducted at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Results were published by the American Heart Association.
This does not mean that people suffering from insomnia will have a heart attack. It does indicate that there is a higher risk of this happening, but it is by no means a guarantee. There are still a lot of things that can be done to reduce the risk and help the people that you love have the best and healthiest life they possibly can and help lower your risk of heart disease. Exercise, stopping smoking, eating right, and help managing weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure can all go a long way toward alleviating the risk of heart disease and its potential consequences. If you have questions about implementing lifestyle changes to help your family, get in touch with a doctor for more advice.
A loved one who suffers from heart disease may have special needs. If you’re struggling to care for a loved one in this situation, there’s help available for you. We’d love to help connect you to those resources. If you’re in or near San Francisco, feel free to give us a call. We offer a free consultation service that might be exactly what you need to get pointed toward the resources and services that can help you to better care for a loved one suffering from the health effects of heart disease. There’s no obligation on your part, and it might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
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