(Robert Preidt/ HealthDay News) — Sleep problems could increase your risk for heart attack, stroke and other heart and brain diseases, a new study suggests.
It included 487,200 people in China, average age 51, with no history of stroke or heart disease. They were asked if they had any of these problems three or more times a week: trouble falling asleep or staying asleep; waking up too early; or trouble staying focused during the day due to poor sleep.
Eleven percent said they had trouble falling asleep or staying asleep; 10% reported waking up too early; and 2% struggled to focus during the day.
During an average 10-year follow-up, there were just over 130,000 cases of stroke, heart attack and similar diseases.
Compared to those with no insomnia symptoms, people with all three were 18% more likely to develop these diseases. (…)