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Tag: sleep problems

  • Your Sleep Can Affect Your Stroke Risk

    Your Sleep Can Affect Your Stroke Risk

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    By Cara Murez 

    HealthDay Reporter

    THURSDAY, April 6, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Sleep problems — from snoring to sleeping too much or too little — may be associated with elevated stroke risk, researchers say.

    Snorting during sleep, having poor quality of sleep and sleep apnea may also be linked with greater risk of stroke, according to study findings published online April 5 in the journal Neurology.

    “Not only do our results suggest that individual sleep problems may increase a person’s risk of stroke, but having more than five of these symptoms may lead to five times the risk of stroke compared to those who do not have any sleep problems,” said study author Dr. Christine McCarthy, of University of Galway in Ireland.

    “Our results suggest that sleep problems should be an area of focus for stroke prevention,” McCarthy said in a journal news release.

    For the study, the researchers looked at nearly 4,500 people, including more than 2,200 stroke survivors. They were matched with more than 2,200 people who did not have a stroke.

    Participants were an average age of 62. They were asked about their sleep behaviors, including napping and breathing problems during sleep.

    A total of 162 of those who had a stroke got less than five hours of nightly sleep, compared to 43 of those who did not have a stroke. Those with less than five hours of sleep were three times more likely to have a stroke than those who got an average seven hours of sleep, the investigators found.

    Another 151 stroke survivors got more than nine hours of sleep a night, compared to 84 of those who did not have a stroke. The long sleepers were twice as likely to have a stroke as those who got seven hours of sleep.

    In addition, people who took naps longer than one hour were 88% more likely to have a stroke than those who did not, the study found.

    The researchers also reported that people who snore during sleep are 91% more likely to have a stroke than those who do not. Those who snort are nearly three times more likely to have a stroke than those who do not. Participants with sleep apnea are nearly three times more likely to have a stroke than those without breathing disruptions during sleep.

    The study adjusted for other factors that affect stroke risk — including smoking, physical activity, depression and alcohol consumption — but got similar results. However, it cannot prove a cause and effect relationship, only an association.

    Still, “with these results, doctors could have earlier conversations with people who are having sleep problems,” McCarthy said. “Interventions to improve sleep may also reduce the risk of stroke and should be the subject of future research.”

    Limitations of the study include that people reported their own symptoms of sleep problems.

    More information
     

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on stroke risk.

     

    SOURCE: Neurology, news release, April 5, 2023

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  • The Scoop on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    The Scoop on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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    Up to 2.5 million Americans have myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). While researchers tie it to problems involving the brain, immune system, and energy metabolism, the causes of the illness and a cure remain undiscovered. The term systemic exertional intolerance disease (SEID) can also be used for this condition. Dana J. Brimmer, PhD, a visiting scientist at the CDC, explains what doctors do know.

    Q: What is this disease?

    Brimmer: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a serious, long-term illness that can radically alter patients’ lives and last for years. People with ME/CFS often have [symptoms that include moderate, severe, and substantial] pain, [debilitating] fatigue, and sleep problems.

    While there is no cure, a diagnosis can help patients and families by giving them a better understanding of ME/CFS and knowledge about managing symptoms. In addition, [the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)] now gives doctors the guidance they need to evaluate and manage the condition.

    What are the symptoms?

    According to the [NAS], ME/CFS has five main symptoms:

    • A large drop in ability to perform a person’s usual activities that lasts for more than 6 months and is accompanied by fatigue
    • Symptoms that get worse after doing physical or mental activities that would have been “usual” before they became ill (also known as post-exertional malaise, or PEM)
    • Unrefreshing sleep
    • Difficulty thinking, processing information, or concentrating
    • Symptoms that worsen when a person stands up but improve when lying down (also known as orthostatic intolerance)

    Many patients with ME/CFS say that PEM is the symptom that interferes with their lives the most. PEM is not always predictable, so it’s hard to plan activities. For example, a person with ME/CFS may be able to go to the grocery store without problems on some days. But on others, the trip could confine them to bed rest for several days after. People with ME/CFS may also have pain, a sore throat, or flu-like symptoms.

    What if a person suspects ME/CFS?

    Talk to a doctor. Only a health care provider can make a diagnosis. Since symptoms vary, some patients find it helpful to keep track of symptoms and bring a list to the first appointment. People can find information about ME/CFS on the websites of the CDC and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

    How can I support someone with ME/CFS?

    ME/CFS affects patients, families, and friends. The most important support you can provide is to understand that the illness is real and has long-term consequences. The severity of ME/CFS varies by person — for example, some people can still work, but others are very sick and homebound.

    The illness can also vary for a single patient — sometimes she may appear “fine,” while other times, she may be too ill to do normal activities. Try to understand these ups and downs, and ask what you can do to help.

    By the Numbers

    2x: Number of women who have ME/CFS as compared to men, although people of both sexes can have the condition.

    30s and 40s: Ages when the condition most often appears. But it also can affect young kids, teens, and older adults.

    $17 billion to $24 billion: Amount in annual medical bills and lost income due to ME/CFS in the U.S.

    Find more articles, browse back issues, and read the current issue of WebMD Magazine.

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