Poor quality sleep linked to higher risk of early death, studies find

POOR quality sleep – whether from insomnia, sleep fragmentation or nightmares – is associated with increased risk of death, experts have said.

One study, conducted at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and presented at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Seattle, suggests insomnia may be as hazardous as obstructive sleep apnoea.

“Insomnia with objective short sleep duration is associated with an activation of the stress system, ie, higher secretion of cortisol and increased risk of high blood pressure,” said lead author Dr Alexandros Vgontzas. He and his associates examined the effects of insomnia that persisted for at least a year.