- High blood pressure is an epidemic in the United States affecting more than 30% of the population.  Insomnia is also very common and may be an important yet under-recognized cause of high blood pressure.  This is according to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
· Study authors analyzed data from 578 participants of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort study.
· Study authors  analyzed the length of time spent asleep and sleep quality along with blood pressure readings over a five year period.
· Study authors concluded that shorter sleep duration and poor sleep quality were associated with higher measured blood pressure readings.

· Study authors also report that self reported frequent snoring in women was also associated with higher blood pressure readings.

· This study provides evidence of the association between high blood pressure and poor sleep quality or insomnia.  Two previous studies had shown higher blood pressure with self reported poor sleep hygiene.  This is the first study to measure sleep and the associated higher blood pressure readings.

The association between high blood pressure and insomnia is an intriguing finding.  Future investigations should be directed at determining if patients with high blood pressure can lower their blood pressure with better sleep.  Better sleep hygiene may become an important part of the medical treatment of high blood pressure.

Cristopher Geiler, M.D.
June 9th 2009
Reference
Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(11):1014.