Bad night's sleep could boost blood pressure risk

Health insurance customers may be interested to hear that a bad night's sleep can increase a person's risk of developing high blood pressure.

According to new research from the US, people - particularly older individuals - who get the least amount of deep sleep are 83 per cent more likely to suffer from hypertension.

The study, conducted by Professor Susan Redline from Harvard Medical School and published in the journal Hypertension, involved 784 male patients over the age of 65.

Writing in the academic journal, Professor Redline said: "Our study shows for the first time that poor quality sleep, reflected by reduced slow wave sleep, puts individuals at significantly increased risk of developing high blood pressure."

She added that although the study only involved men, it is likely that a lack of deep sleep would also have a negative effect on the blood pressure of women in the same age bracket.

Recently, dispensing optician Richard Pakey urged health insurance customers to get their eyes checked regularly because, as well as spotting vision problems, eye tests can be used to monitor more dangerous conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.