People who experience trouble sleeping could be at an increased risk of having a stroke, new research has suggested.
Scientists in the US found that those who have difficulty falling asleep, struggle to stay asleep, or wake up too early have greater chances of developing the deadly condition, which occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. The research showed that people with one or more self-reported symptoms of insomnia had a 16% increased risk of stroke, compared to those with no trouble sleeping.
The link between the two was stronger in those under 50 years of age - people in this group with between five and eight symptoms of insomnia had nearly four times the risk of having a stroke compared to those with no symptoms. A stroke can happen at any age, with around one in four happening to younger people, although you're more likely to have a stroke if you're over 55.
