Sleep-deprived women are at greater risk for developing heart disease than men. Women who slept five hours or less displayed an increase in inflammatory markers known as high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins, which are commonly associated with cardiovascular disease. The study, which was conducted at Warwick Medical School in England, had 4,600 participants, 73% of whom were men, SleepFoundation.org reported. Researchers determined volunteers’ sleep duration using questionnaires and followed up with a general health screening exam.
Michelle Miller, lead author of the study, said in a statement, “Short sleep is associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk and that association between sleep duration and cardiovascular risk factors is markedly different in men and women.”
