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Sleep disturbance leads to the development of hypertension
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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In recent years, many studies have been conducted that have proven that sleep disorders and insomnia can cause a variety of serious illnesses. Researchers at Duke University (USA) reported that women are much more susceptible to the impact of insomnia on their health than their male counterparts.
Statistics, in turn, report that female representatives are several times more likely to seek medical attention with complaints of poor, interrupted sleep. Specialists from the Duke University Expert Center conducted several detailed studies to determine the relationship between poor sleep and health problems in the female body.
More than a hundred people took part in the experiment. For several months, volunteers filled out special questionnaires daily, where they were required to answer questions in detail about the quality of sleep, their well-being, the presence of a bad mood after waking up, and the first signs of depression. After the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken from the participants and specialists analyzed their general health. While processing the data, specialists found that more than 40% of the people surveyed complained of insomnia, poor sleep, and problems falling asleep. All female representatives who had sleep disorders turned out to be prone to cardiovascular diseases, and insulin levels in the blood were higher than normal.
The study leader noted that the main function of sound sleep is to allow the body to recover and gain strength for the next period of time. Women usually do several things at once, which leads to an overload of the brain, which then requires more time to recover.
Scientists from Russia disagree with their American colleagues. For example, a representative of the Russian Society of Somnologists noted that the amount of sleep needed cannot depend on a person's gender. He suggests that the amount of sleep needed for a healthy person depends on genetic characteristics. Sleep disorders often lead to various cardiovascular diseases. For example, the most common disease today is hypertension. About 30% of the adult population of the planet suffers from arterial hypertension.
Research findings from last year reported that high blood pressure can be caused by insomnia or insufficient sleep. Even if a person leads a completely healthy lifestyle, but does not get enough sleep, he or she has a chance of developing cardiovascular problems over time.
Minor sleep disturbances, if left untreated, can lead to chronic insomnia, breathing problems, and even mental disorders. Experts warn that the slightest sleep problems should be a cause for concern. If you cannot get rid of restless sleep on your own, it is better to consult an expert who can determine the causes of the disorder.
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