New research suggests that insomnia significantly increases the risk of having stroke among those under the age of 50.
People who endure regular struggles with sleep were 51 per cent more likely to have a stroke than those without insomnia.
According to The Times:
Scientists said insomnia increased inflammation in the body, which in turn can damage blood vessels, leading to strokes.
The US study looked at 31,126 people with an average age of 61, who were followed for nine years.
During this period, 2,101 had a stroke, which occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, usually by a blood clot.
The participants were questioned three times about their insomnia symptoms, including how often they found falling asleep difficult, whether they woke up during the night regularly, whether they woke up too early, and how often they felt rested in the morning.
Scores ranged from zero to eight, with a higher number meaning more severe insomnia.
One in five of the participants scored between five and eight, meaning they struggled to sleep most nights, and this group were 51 per cent more likely to have a stroke than those with no symptoms.
Those scoring between one and four, meaning they occasionally struggled to sleep, were 16 per cent more likely to have a stroke than those with no sleep problems.
The impact of insomnia on stroke risk was highest in those under 50, who are at a lower overall risk of stroke.
Participants under 50 with severe symptoms had nearly four times the stroke risk of those with none, while this increased risk fell to 38 per cent in over-50s.
Dr Wendemi Sawadogo, the lead author of the research led by Virginia Commonwealth University and published in the journal Neurology, said: “This difference in risk between these two age groups may be explained by the higher occurrence of stroke at an older age.
“The list of stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes can grow as people age, making insomnia symptoms one of many possible factors. This striking difference suggests that managing insomnia symptoms at a younger age may be an effective strategy for stroke prevention. Future research should explore the reduction of stroke risk through management of sleeping problems.”
Researchers said that the findings proved the importance of intervening to help people overcome insomnia, with support such as cognitive behavioural therapy made widely available.