New research published in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension explored the links between sleep duration, sleep quality, biological sex, and blood pressure.
The post hoc analysis included 153 participants from two studies on sleep and blood pressure. Participants had their 24-hour blood pressure measured as well as their sleep length. Sleep has been previously associated with heart disease, with shorter sleep durations having a well-established link with cardiovascular disease and mortality. The goal of this study was to examine the potential links between sleep and 24-hour blood pressure readings.
The results showed that participants with shorter sleep durations (less than seven hours per night) tended to have higher blood pressure readings. Interestingly, the presence of sleep apnea did not affect blood pressure readings.
A second, related study examined the specific stages of sleep and their relationship with blood pressure in men and women. The results showed that women who got more deep sleep had lower blood pressure than women who spent less time in deep sleep. Men had no association between deep sleep and blood pressure, but men who woke up more frequently after falling asleep had higher blood pressure than men who woke up less.
Together, the results of these studies emphasize the importance of getting sufficient high-quality sleep for improving blood pressure. The researchers noted that sleep is critical for overall health and wellbeing, especially heart health. The results of the second study also indicate that sleep recommendations may vary for men and women; women may want to focus on improving deep sleep, while men may want to focus on avoiding interruptions and awakening at night. High blood pressure is a serious risk factor for heart disease, and sleep plays a critical role in controlling blood pressure and preventing hypertension.
Sources: The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, Science Daily