New research shows that insomnia may be a potential risk factor for brain bleeding from a ruptured aneurysm. According to the latest study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, this risk factor comes along with other well-known risk factors, such as smoking and high blood pressure.
Worldwide, more than 3% of adults have unruptured blood vessel malformations in the brain, called intracranial aneurysms. The majority of these blood vessels will never rupture. However, about 2.5% of them will result in a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), also known as a brain bleed.
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SAH is a type of stroke that happens when a blood vessel on the brain’s surface ruptures and bleeds into the space between the skull and the brain.
“Ruptured aneurysms are highly fatal. It is, therefore, essential to identify modifiable risk factors that can help prevent aneurysms from rupturing,” said study author Susanna C Larsson.
For the study, researchers set out to determine whether various risk factors were associated with intracranial aneurysms. Some established risk factors were studied, such as high blood pressure and smoking. Researchers also assessed the links between aneurysms and coffee consumption, physical activity, sleep, body mass index (BMI), blood glucose levels, blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cholesterol, chronic inflammation, and kidney function.
Data from several genome-wide association studies were used to gauge genetic associations to lifestyle and cardiometabolic risk factors. According to the analysis, researchers found that a genetic predisposition for insomnia was associated with a 24% increased risk for intracranial aneurysm and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
It was also determined that an intracranial aneurysm was about three times higher for smokers versus nonsmokers. The risk was almost three times higher for each 10 mm Hg increase in diastolic blood pressure.
Researchers did note that high triglyceride levels and high BMI did not show an increased risk for intracranial aneurysms.
Previous Findings
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This research supports previous findings on the associations between insomnia and intracranial aneurysm. The study supports the thinking that risk factors people can change or manage may impact brain aneurysms and hemorrhage risk.
The American Heart Association scientific statement summarizes how insufficient and poor quality sleep are linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure. The statement notes outlined that treating people with sleep disorders could provide clinical benefits, particularly for blood pressure, which we now know is a contributing factor for intracranial aneurysms.
Some study limitations included in this research were insufficient information to analyze some of the risk factors adequately. The analysis also only had people of European ancestry, so more research is needed to qualify these findings in other diverse racial and ethnic groups.
Sarah began her interest in nutritional healing at an early age. After going through health problems and becoming frustrated with the conventional ways doctors wanted to treat her illness (which were not working), she took it upon herself to find alternative treatments. This led her to revolutionize her own diet to help her get healthier and tackle her health problems. She began treating her illness by living a more balanced lifestyle through healthy food choices, exercise and other alternative medicine such as meditation. This total positive lifestyle change led her to earn a diploma in Nutritional Therapy from Health Sciences Academy in London, England. Today, Sarah enjoys helping others by teaching healthy lifestyle changes through her personal consultations and with her regular contributions to the Doctors Health Press. Also, passionate about following her dreams in life, Sarah moved to France and lived in Paris for over 5 years where she earned a certification in beadwork and embroidery from Lesage (an atelier owned by Chanel). She then went on to be a familiar face sitting front row and reporting from Paris Fashion Week. Sarah continues to practice some of the cultural ways of life she learned while in Europe. They enjoy their food, and take the time to relax and enjoy many of life’s little moments. These are life lessons she is glad to have brought back home with her.
