If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, your problems could be worse than just being tired: Both insomnia and oversleeping could increase your risk of having a stroke.
New findings, published Wednesday in Neurology, indicate that sleep disorders, like insomnia and sleep apnea, are associated with stroke risk and could hamper stroke recovery. Researchers combined data from multiple studies that focused on the sleep-stroke connection.
“Although sleep disorders are common after a stroke, very few stroke patients are tested for them,” said study author Dr. Dirk M. Hermann in a statement. “The results of our review show that should change, as people with sleep disorders may be more likely to have another stroke or other negative outcomes than people without sleep problems, such as having to go to a nursing home after leaving the hospital.”
Medical Daily notes that sleep problems have previously been linked to many different disorders, ranging from depression and weight gain to Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s important to note that the evidence linking sleep-breathing problems (like sleep apnea) to stroke risk was stronger than for sleep-wake disorders (like insomnia and restless leg syndrome). Researchers stopped short of recommending drug treatment for sleep-wake disorders, citing potential side effects and the need for further study. They recommend a continuous positive airway pressure machine for sleep apnea, as it could aid in stroke recovery.
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Sleep Problems Could Mean Higher Stroke Risk originally appeared on usnews.com
