Insomnia in men increases depression, weight gain and death

A new study says that men suffering from insomnia, sleep deprivation, are more likely to die prematurely than those who, on a regular basis, get a good night’s sleep.

Men with insomnia are almost five times as plausible to die as men considered “good sleepers.” When compounded with hypertension or diabetes, men with insomnia are seven times as likely to die as those who get a good night’s sleep.

For the research, 1,000 women of average age 47 and 741 men of average age 50 years, supplied a extemsive sleep history, received a physical exam and slept one night in a laboratory so their sleep duration could be measured objectively with a polysomnograph. The study spanned a 14-year period

The higher mortality rates for men were determined after the results had been adjusted to take into account the participants’ other risk factors, such as their body mass index (BMI), whether they smoked, how much alcohol they drank, and depression.

The research identified no significant danger for female insomniacs who stayed asleep for fewer than six hour periods. “We believe that cumulatively these findings will increase the awareness among physicians and scientists that insomnia should be diagnosed early and treated appropriately,” said principal investigator Alexandros N.Vgontzas.

Insomnia is characterized by having a difficult time falling or staying asleep. It is also the most common sleep disorder, affecting approximately 30 percent of people in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Chronic insomniacs are those who have had the disorder consistently for at least a year.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises that adults get an average of seven to eight hours of sleep per night, while the National Sleep Foundation recommends that teenagers need at least 8.5 hours, though only 15% of them get enough.