Women's Health Most at Risk from Being Sleep Deprived

by WiredBerries Editors — September 21, 2007

New research reveals that women's health is surprisingly more at risk from sleep deprivation than men's. The researchers found that the women in the study group who slept only 5 or less hours a night were twice as likely to suffer from hypertension than women who slept for the recommended 7 hours or more a night. Interestingly, the researchers found no difference between men sleeping less than 5 hours and those sleeping 7 hours or more. Of course, men should still aim for the recommended amount of sleep, but they do seem to be more resilient in that area.

Women, however, may want to be extra careful, warns Professor Francesco Cappuccio from the University of Warwick's Warwick Medical School, who led the research. He says women sleeping less than 5 hours should consistently make getting more sleep a priority.

"Sustained sleep curtailment, ensuing excessive daytime sleepiness, and the higher cardiovascular risk are causes for concern. Emerging evidence also suggests a potential role for sleep deprivation as a predictor or risk factor for conditions like obesity and diabetes."

Sleep deprivation has also been linked with impaired thinking and poor memory. Making lifestyle changes is never easy, but in the long run, finding a way to get more sleep should be well worth the effort in terms of improved health and a clear head.