Public Release: 

Sleepiness common among black women, may be linked to high blood pressure

American Heart Association meeting report -- presentation P225

American Heart Association

CHICAGO, Sept. 6, 2018 - Poor sleep habits may be related to low levels of physical activity, high blood pressure and obesity among black women, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association's Joint Hypertension 2018 Scientific Sessions, an annual conference focused on recent advances in hypertension research.

In a study of overweight and obese black women, researchers set out to determine whether there's a connection between sleep, blood pressure and levels of physical activity. Sleepiness was determined using a questionnaire that asks whether a person is likely to "doze" during certain daily activities, and their likelihood of napping if given the opportunity. The women were 50 years old on average.

About half of the 361 women studied reported sleeping less than 7 hours a night. In addition, 62 percent reported daytime sleepiness (35 percent at "high normal" and 27 percent at "excessive"). The study found these women to have a greater incidence of limited sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness compared to the general population.

Women who reported high levels of daytime sleepiness also reported much less vigorous and moderate physical activity and had higher blood pressure compared to those who said they had normal levels of daytime sleepiness.

These findings suggest that efforts to combat obesity and high blood pressure among this population should address sleep quality, the authors said.

###

Augustine Kang, M.Sc., Ph.D. candidate, and Patricia Markham Risica, Dr.P.H., co-authored the study.

This study was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Additional Resources:

Statements and conclusions of study authors published in American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals. Foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations and health insurance providers are available at https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/aha-financial-information.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke - the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.