Don't let sleep delays accumulate! Scientists have just discovered that the risk of developing hypertension increases with sleep deprivation (June 2009).

A study has just revealed that adults who don't get enough sleep have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure.

Over the past 5 years, Kristen L. Knutson of the University of Chicago and her colleagues have gathered information on 578 adults in their forties.
They measured their blood pressure, and the number of hours they slept. Sleep duration was measured in two ways: on the one hand, by surveys, and on the other, by a sensor attached to each participant's wrist, which recorded periods of rest and activity.

Adults who slept a few hours less than other participants in the study tended significantly to have higher blood pressure. Adults who slept less also tended to develop hypertension over time. At the end of 5 years, every hour less of sleep was associated with a 37% increase in the chance of developing high blood pressure or hypertension, according to the study's findings, published in the June 2009 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The average amount of sleep participants got per night was 6 hours. Only 1% slept 8 hours or more per night.

"Identifying a new lifestyle risk factor could lead to new interventions to prevent or reduce hypertension," said Prof. Knutson's team. Laboratory studies of short-term sleep deprivation have suggested potential mechanisms for a causal link between sleep loss and hypertension.

Hypertension is the cause of 7 million deaths worldwide every year, and the condition affects 1/3 of Americans.

The researchers also highlighted the fact that stress induced by sleep deprivation can also increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.

The study, which excluded patients taking medication for hypertension, also considered the different criteria of age, race and gender. It also revealed that black men had higher blood pressure levels than white men or women.
In addition, black men had a "natural" tendency to sleep a few hours less.

"These two observations suggest the interesting possibility that hypertension already well documented with respect to African Americans and in men in particular may well be due in part to sleep duration."

Quality of sleep and quality of life: the two are linked!