If you sleep more than eight hours a night, snore or regularly are drowsy during the day, you may be at an increased risk of stroke, University at Buffalo researchers have found. These results from the Western New York Stroke Screening Study, presented in Fort Lauderdale today at the American Stroke Association's 26th International Stroke Conference, showed that people who regularly slept more than eight hours a night had 9 percent more strokes than those who slept less. Persons who regularly were sleepy during the day showed a 10 percent increase in stroke, compared to those who didn't experience daytime somnolence. Individuals who snore severely or have trouble staying awake during the day should see a doctor to find out why. These may be signs of sleep apnea, which is associated with an increased risk of having a stroke.
Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops briefly and repeatedly during sleep.
The breathing abnormality often causes snoring and frequent awakening, as the sleeper quickly gasps for breath, and can lead to drowsiness during the day. The condition is recognized as a contributor to heart disease and stroke. Participants answered a questionnaire on sleep habits and cardiovascular risk factors, were interviewed by a neurologist or neurosurgeon to determine history of stroke and underwent ultrasound testing on the carotid artery to determine arterial narrowing. Like many strokes, TIAs are caused by a blocked blood vessel within or leading to the brain. The risk for stroke was independently and significantly associated with daytime sleepiness, average hours of sleep and nighttime snoring, Qureshi said.