During the night, sympathetic nerve activity can be affected by insomnia. A new study explains that the Prolonged lack of sleep can increase the risk of heart diseasesomething very dangerous, especially for those who suffer from chronic insomnia.
He chronic insomnia, which affects approximately 10% of the world’s populationit is much more than just sleep problems. In addition to having an immediate impact on sleep quality and general well-being, it is also linked to a number of long-term health problems, such as metabolic disorders (obesity, diabetes) and mental disorders (anxiety, depression). This link between insomnia and various health problems highlights the urgent need to better understand this problem and develop effective interventions.
According to a study published in the journal Sleep Medicine by Elsevier, in which the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) participated, this sleep disorder is closely linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system during sleep.
Insomnia affects the sympathetic nervous system
He team analyzed the sleep of patients with persistent insomnia and compared the results with a control group of people without sleep problems. The results were revealing: they found a clear difference in sympathetic nervous system activity between the two groups, which was significantly higher in those who suffered from insomnia.
The Excessive nerve activity manifests itself in increased skin temperature and increased sweating, which could explain the link between insomnia and the risk of heart problems. This excessive nervous activity is reflected in higher skin temperature and increased sweating, factors that could explain the link between insomnia and the risk of developing heart problems.
The study used a portable device to measure the physiological signals sweating, temperature, accelerometry and photoplethysmography during sleep. The study involved 51 patients who spent a night in the sleep ward of La Princesa Hospital.
Prevention is essential
‘The results suggest that Patients with insomnia have greater sympathetic activity during sleepespecially during REM sleep and less pronounced during the deepest phase of sleep. These differences could explain the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with insomnia.
Furthermore, these findings demonstrate how wearable devices are emerging as a useful tool in the outpatient setting to detect patients with insomnia and/or an increased risk of cardiovascular disease“, indicates Marta Verona, co-author of the work and researcher at UPM and Easy-Innovation.
The work emphasizes the importance of reconsider treatment strategies. In addition to improving sleep quality, it is essential to recognize sleep deprivation as a risk factor for chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. This new perspective opens doors to more comprehensive and preventive interventions, the authors say.
In the research of insomnia and its consequences, if you have a healthy liferesearchers from the Complutense University of Madrid, the UPM, the La Princesa University Hospital in Madrid and two companies participated: Eesy-Innovation and Brainguard.