Daytime dozing linked to strokes

Elderly people who doze during the day are four times more likely to have a stroke than those who don’t, according to a new research.

The study, presented at the recent American Stroke Association in New Orleans, stated those who found it difficult to stay awake during the daytime were at a much higher risk.

The researchers at Columbia University in New York also discovered that senior citizens who enjoy a nap in the afternoon were much more likely to develop heart problems.

Lead author Bernadette Boden-Albala said: “Even when we controlled for things like hypertension, diabetes, physical activity, obesity and socioeconomic status, we found that people who had significant daytime dozing were much more likely to end up with a stroke.”

Altogether 2,153 adults with an average age of 73 were tested in the study.

They were mainly Hispanic men and women over 40 and living in the same community in New York. None had suffered a stroke.

By the end of the two-and-a-half year research, there were 40 strokes and 127 ‘other vascular events’.

It found that those doing ‘some dozing’ were 2.6 times more likely to have a stroke than those doing no dozing at all. Those doing ‘significant dozing’ were 4.5 times more at risk.

Worryingly, those in the ‘some dozing’ group also had a 60% increased risk of vascular problems.

However, scarier still is that the researchers are still scratching their heads as to reason why there is a link.

Boden-Albala said “Whether it’s sleep deprivation or sleep apnoea [when you briefly stop breathing during sleep], physiological changes are occurring that may be related to this increased risk.

“I think we need to investigate further.”

Source: News Medical Net