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TheDigger Intelligence Unit
Having trouble falling asleep and stopping breathing during the night can be a riskier mix than people once thought.
A new study of almost one million U.S. veterans found that having both insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea raises the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. Getting help for sleep problems early could help prevent heart issues.
Sleep Disorders as a Hidden Cardiovascular Risk
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) say that sleep problems are a strong but preventable cause of heart disease. Their study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, shows that adults with both insomnia and sleep apnea, called comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea (COMISA), have much higher risks than people with just one of these conditions.
“We spend an enormous amount of time managing cardiovascular disease downstream, but far less time addressing upstream modifiable risk factors,” says Allison Gaffey, PhD, assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at YSM and lead author of the study. “Sleep disturbances, which are common in the veteran population, are often treated as secondary problems.”
Why Overlapping Sleep Disorders Matter
Insomnia maInsomnia means it is hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. Sleep apnea causes people to stop breathing for short periods during the night. While doctors often diagnose these problems separately, many people have both at the same time. When they occur together, the health risks get worse. Conditions don’t just coexist politely,” Gaffey explains. “Treating one while ignoring the other is like bailing water out of a boat without fixing the leak.”
How Disrupted Sleep Strains the Heart
Good sleep lets the heart and blood vessels rest and recover. But waking up often, not sleeping enough, and breathing problems at night take away this chance for the body to heal. Without enough rest, the heart and blood vessels cannot recover or stay balanced.
“Sleep touches every single part of our existence,” says Andrey Zinchuk, MD, MHS, associate professor of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at YSM and senior author of the study. “It is often neglected, even though it has such an important impact on our lives.”
The researchers wanted to find out if COMISA affects heart risk early enough for prevention to work. Their results show that ongoing sleep problems are not just small annoyances. Over time, they put real stress on the heart and blood vessels.
A Call for Prevention
Checking for and treating both insomnia and sleep apnea at the same time can make a big difference for heart health.
