More evidence that insomnia increases the risk of heart disease, stroke

New European research has found more evidence that suffering from insomnia could increase an individual’s risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke.

In the first-of-its-kind study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden looked at data gathered from around 1.3 million people taking part in four major studies.

The researchers assessed whether there is a genetic association between insomnia and major cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and stroke. They used a technique called Mendelian randomization, which involves studying genetic variants to see if certain factors are associated with a higher or lower risk of disease.

As Mendelian randomization gives more reliable results if an association is found it is more likely to suggest a direct relationship.


The findings, published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation, showed that genetic variants for insomnia were associated with a significantly higher chance of experiencing coronary artery disease, heart failure, and ischemic stroke, particularly large artery stroke. However, no association was found for atrial fibrillation.

Although previous research has already found an association between insomnia and an increased risk of developing heart disease and stroke, this evidence is based on observational studies that are unable to determine whether insomnia is a cause of the increased risk of disease or if it is just associated with the conditions.


Dr. Susanna Larsson, the study’s lead author, commented that “It is important to identify the underlying reason for insomnia and treat it. Sleep is a behavior that can be changed by new habits and stress management.”

However, the team also noted that a limitation of the study is that the findings show a genetic variant link to insomnia and not whether participants actually had insomnia.

According to the researchers, insomnia affects up to 30% of the general population. Experts are becoming increasingly concerned about what they call a growing “sleep loss epidemic” with sleep deprivation now linked to a variety of health problems including weight gain, cancer and depression. HM

source: technology.inquirer.net

Woman with rare condition sleeps months at a time

A 22-year-old woman from Stockport in northwest England has been dubbed as the real-life Sleeping Beauty due to a medical condition that forces her to wake up from sleeping months at a time.

Beth Goodier was only 16 years old when she first went into a deep slumber and could not be awakened by her parents for six months.

The young lady would usually keep her eyes closed for 22 hours a day, and remained in a a dream-like trance for a couple of hours, according to a Metro.co.uk report.

Her mother feared that a brain tumor or haemorrhage might have been causing her daughter’s unusual sleeping activity, but doctors could not determine exactly what was wrong with her.

After countless tests, one doctor finally remembered a colleague of his who had dealt with a similar case.

Goodier was diagnosed with a rare ailment called Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS), which is also known as Sleeping Beauty Sydrome.

The unusual case, which occurs usually among teenagers starting at age 16 and lasting for 13 years, has only been recorded in just 100 young people in Britain.

Despite its relation to a classic Disney fairy tale, those afflicted with the illness sufferers a great deal of misery, as they are essentially sleeping through the best years of their lives.

Goodier is currently two-and-a half months into another deep-sleep episode, and as estimated by her mother, she’s been asleep for almost 75% of the time.

Furthermore, doctors also found a link between her illness and recovery from tonsillitis back in 2011, which they believed triggered the disease.

Notwithstanding her peculiar case, Goodier keeps a positive attitude and even documents her progression on social media.

@APeaceOfBeth the progression over the days, I’m completely swollen and very ill. pic.twitter.com/W9IAmWD5RN

— Roo-dolf 🌲 (@APeaceOfBeth) August 31, 2016

In the brief moments that she is lucid, she uses the time to eat and drink to maintain her health, while also squeezing in some time for her boyfriend Dan, who she met during her awake episode three years ago.

Her mother also decided to give up her job in order to focus all her attention on her ailing daughter.

“She might wake up tomorrow and then it’s a race against time to live the life she should have had,” she described her child’s situation in the report.

“She rushes off to catch up with her friends and get her hair done. But no one knows when she might fall asleep again.It breaks my heart to see the best years of her life slipping away.”  Khristian Ibarrola

source: technology.inquirer.net