Snooze Away to Reduce Your Blood Pressure 03 Sep, 2011 - 08:57am
New research says not getting enough slow wave sleep (SWS) is an
accurate predictor for developing high blood pressure in older
men. Published in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart
Association, this study shows for the first time a link between
poor quality of sleep and risk of developing high blood
pressure. SWS is one of the deeper stages of sleep and is
distinguished by non-rapid eye movement (non-REM). In this type
of sleep, it is difficult to wake up. On an
electroencephalogram, SWS sleep registers delta activity: slow,
synchronized brain waves. According to the researchers from the
Outcomes of Sleep Disorders in Older Men Study (MrOs Sleep
Study), people that experiences the lowest level of SWS
displayed an 80 percent higher risk of developing high blood
pressure. "Our study shows for the first time that poor quality
sleep, reflected by reduced slow wave sleep, puts individuals at
significantly increased risk of developing high bl