Anger outbursts and fits of sadness can increase the risk of developing insomnia, according to a Swedish study.
The hours pass on the clock, but sleep does not come. 15% of the French population suffers from insomnia according to the 2010 Health barometer. And if we are to believe a study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, people who have poor control of their emotions are most at risk of developing this sleep disorder.
2,300 Swedish adults took part in this work. They filled out questionnaires on their ability to manage their emotions, their difficulty falling asleep. The immediate analysis did not reveal any link between these two elements. But the 6-month follow-up reveals changes in the quality of sleep. Volunteers who lose the ability to control their moods are most at risk of suffering from insomnia, especially in its chronic form.
“These findings are important because, although the extent of the effects is small, they suggest that teaching emotion regulation strategies could perhaps help prevent cases of insomnia and lower the risk of insomnia. ‘chronic insomnia,’ says study co-author Markus Jansson-Fröjmark, from the Swedish University of Örebro, to Relaxnews.
A danger for coronaries
When insomnia breaks out, it is important to treat it, because its harmful effects on the body are numerous. Another one study, also published this week, shows that sleep disorders are associated with a deterioration in the condition of the coronary arteries. The follow-up of 47,000 patients revealed an increased presence of calcium – a sign of arterial stiffening – in short sleepers (less than 7 hours), but also in heavy sleepers (9 hours or more). The duration of sleep is not the only parameter to affect the cardiovascular system: the presence of calcium is increased by 20% in those who report having poor quality sleep.
Non-drug treatment for insomnia is possible. A study, published in Sleep, shows that one hour of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is enough to make insomnia disappear for 73% of participants. For this, the disorder must be managed within three months of the onset of symptoms, recommend the authors of this small study (40 participants).
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