Many people associate high blood pressure with diet, exercise, age, and genetic factors, but sleep problems may also play a role, according to HealthDay.
Researchers from Penn State College of Medicine analyzed data from more than 1,700 adults.
Participants reported their levels of daytime sleepiness and also underwent assessments of their nighttime sleep.
Specific pattern linked to higher risk
People who experienced excessive daytime sleepiness were 52 percent more likely to already have high blood pressure.
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They were also 74 percent more likely to develop the condition later, according to the study published in Sleep.
The risk was even greater among those who took 30 minutes or longer to fall asleep at night.
In that group, the likelihood of having high blood pressure was more than twice as high. Their risk of developing high blood pressure later was more than three times greater.
Doctors should take a broader view of sleep problems
Excessive daytime sleepiness, particularly when combined with difficulty falling asleep at night, may be an early warning sign of an increased risk of high blood pressure.
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The researchers therefore believe that doctors should not focus solely on sleep apnea when patients experience unusual levels of daytime fatigue.
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