Sleep deprivation threatens women with 75% "world number one killer"

Sleep deprivation threatens women

with 75% "world number one killer"

Middle-aged women who sleep less than five hours a night significantly

increase their risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a US study.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh followed nearly 3 thousand women

aged between 42 and 52, over 22 years, and recorded their sleep

and heart health habits.

The majority of women (55%)

said they sleep about six hours and 30 minutes each

night :

1. but 14% reported getting
2. less than five hours of 
3. sleep on a regular basis.

The study found that women with less than five hours per night were on

average 72% more likely to suffer strokes, heart attacks, heart failure

and coronary artery disease than those with more than six hours per night.

The health impact was worse for women with insomnia symptoms 

more than three times a week and less than an average of five hours per night.

Researchers found that :

these women have a 75% higher risk of heart disease.

According to the World Health Organization

• heart disease has been

• the leading cause of

• death worldwide over the past 20 years.

Researchers suggested that the relationship between sleep and heart disease

could be due to the fact that insufficient sleep can raise blood pressure

and lead to insulin resistance, increasing the risk of blood vessel damage.

Lack of sleep also increases women's risk of obesity

contributing to cardiovascular problems.

The researchers were likely due to

the body's inability to observe hunger and satiety.

Previous studies have shown that many adults experience increased sleep

problems and deteriorating cardiovascular health as they enter middle age.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends

adults sleep for at least seven hours per night.