Sleep problems may raise the risk of stroke

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Sleep problems such as snoring, snorting, or getting too much or too little sleep may significantly raise the odds of having a stroke, a new analysis suggests.

The international study, published online April 5, 2023, by Neurology, involved nearly 4,500 people (average age 62). About half of the group had already experienced a stroke. Participants were asked about their sleep behaviors over the prior month, including how many hours they usually slept, impaired sleep quality, and napping habits, as well as snoring, snorting, and other breathing problems during sleep. Too little sleep was defined as less than five hours nightly, while too much sleep was defined as more than nine hours.

Each of the sleep symptoms raised stroke risk, but participants who reported five or more symptoms were five times likelier to have had a stroke compared with those who had no sleep issues. The results held even after the researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect stroke risk, such as smoking, physical activity level, depression, and alcohol consumption. The results suggest sleep problems should be factored into stroke prevention efforts, the study authors said.