Insomnia tied to 69% greater risk of heart attack – worse for women

(Sci Tech Daily) — New research has found that individuals with insomnia are 69% more likely to have a heart attack over an average nine-year follow-up period, compared to those without the sleep disorder. Additionally, individuals who sleep five or fewer hours per night have the highest risk of heart attack.

The study also found that individuals with both diabetes and insomnia are twice as likely to have a heart attack. In addition, heart attacks occurred more often in women with insomnia.

People who suffer from insomnia were 69% more likely to have a heart attack compared to those who didn’t have the sleep disorder during an average nine years of follow-up, according to new research being presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session Together With the World Congress of Cardiology.

In addition, when looking at sleep duration as an objective measure of insomnia, researchers found that people who clocked five or fewer hours of sleep a night had the greatest risk of experiencing a heart attack. People with both diabetes and insomnia had a twofold likelihood of having a heart attack. (…)