Insomnia Is Associated With Higher Risk Of Stroke & Heart Disease

A recent study has found an association between genetic predisposition to insomnia and increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and coronary artery disease. According to lead author Dr. Susanna Larsson of the Karolinska Institute a connection was previously established, but the study was not able to determine if insomnia was the cause of these heart problems or just associated. 

Utilizing data from 1.3 million people a special randomization technique was used that considers certain risk factors such as insomnia to minimize any bias in their findings investigating the association with heart problems. Findings indicate a genetic predisposition to insomnia is associated with an increased risk of developing heart failure, ischemic stroke, and coronary artery disease, of which large artery stroke was found to be the most common, but no increased risk was found for risk of arterial fibrillation. 

“It’s important to identify the underlying reason for insomnia and treat it,” Larsson comments in a press release. “Sleep is a behavior that can be changed by new habits and stress management.”

As published in the journal Circulation, it was noted that the study was limited by not being able to determine if the participants actually suffered from insomnia, or whether they were genetically linked to the disorder.