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| Daytime dozing 'stroke warning' | Daytime dozing 'stroke warning' |
| (3 days later) | |
| Regular unintentional daytime dozing may be an early warning sign of stroke in elderly people, say US researchers. | Regular unintentional daytime dozing may be an early warning sign of stroke in elderly people, say US researchers. |
| For those who had a habit of nodding off, the risk of stroke was two to four times higher than for those who never fell asleep in the day, a study found. | For those who had a habit of nodding off, the risk of stroke was two to four times higher than for those who never fell asleep in the day, a study found. |
| Speaking at the International Stroke Conference, the team advised doctors to check out older people who found they were dropping off in front of the TV. | Speaking at the International Stroke Conference, the team advised doctors to check out older people who found they were dropping off in front of the TV. |
| The study asked 2,000 people how often they dozed off in different situations. | The study asked 2,000 people how often they dozed off in different situations. |
| These included while watching TV, sitting and talking to someone, sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol and stopping briefly in traffic while driving. | These included while watching TV, sitting and talking to someone, sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol and stopping briefly in traffic while driving. |
| But the real question is: 'What are we doing to our bodies?'. Sleepiness obviously puts us at risk of stroke Dr Bernadette Boden-Albala | But the real question is: 'What are we doing to our bodies?'. Sleepiness obviously puts us at risk of stroke Dr Bernadette Boden-Albala |
| The risk of stroke over the next two years was 2.6 times greater for people who reported "some dozing" compared to those with no dozing. | The risk of stroke over the next two years was 2.6 times greater for people who reported "some dozing" compared to those with no dozing. |
| Among those who reported "significant dozing" the risk was 4.5 times higher. | Among those who reported "significant dozing" the risk was 4.5 times higher. |
| The researchers also found the risk of heart attack or death from vascular disease was increased. | The researchers also found the risk of heart attack or death from vascular disease was increased. |
| Study leader, Dr Bernadette Boden-Albala, assistant professor of neurology at Columbia University, New York, said: "Those are significant numbers. We were surprised that the impact was that high for such a short period of time." | Study leader, Dr Bernadette Boden-Albala, assistant professor of neurology at Columbia University, New York, said: "Those are significant numbers. We were surprised that the impact was that high for such a short period of time." |
| Poor sleep | Poor sleep |
| Previous research has shown that people who suffer from sleep apnoea - short periods when breathing stops during sleep - have an increased stroke risk. | Previous research has shown that people who suffer from sleep apnoea - short periods when breathing stops during sleep - have an increased stroke risk. |
| It could be that daytime sleepiness is a sign of sleeping poorly at night because of sleep apnoea. | It could be that daytime sleepiness is a sign of sleeping poorly at night because of sleep apnoea. |
| "Given what's known now, it's worth assessing patients for sleep problems," Dr Boden-Albala said. | "Given what's known now, it's worth assessing patients for sleep problems," Dr Boden-Albala said. |
| "If patients are moderately or significantly dozing, physicians need to think about sending them for further evaluation." | "If patients are moderately or significantly dozing, physicians need to think about sending them for further evaluation." |
| She added other studies had shown people were not getting enough sleep, making them consistently tired. | She added other studies had shown people were not getting enough sleep, making them consistently tired. |
| "But the real question is: 'What are we doing to our bodies?'. Sleepiness obviously puts us at risk of stroke." | "But the real question is: 'What are we doing to our bodies?'. Sleepiness obviously puts us at risk of stroke." |
| Dr Heinrich Audebert, consultant stroke physician at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London said the findings seemed reasonable. | Dr Heinrich Audebert, consultant stroke physician at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London said the findings seemed reasonable. |
| "Sleep apnoea is a risk factor for stroke and in Mediterranean countries the siesta is associated with a little bit of an increased daytime risk of stroke." | "Sleep apnoea is a risk factor for stroke and in Mediterranean countries the siesta is associated with a little bit of an increased daytime risk of stroke." |
| He explained that patients with sleep apnoea had increased blood pressure levels during the night. | He explained that patients with sleep apnoea had increased blood pressure levels during the night. |
| One other potential cause for the findings could be previous undiagnosed minor strokes causing damage to the brain and leading to more sleepiness during the day, he said. | One other potential cause for the findings could be previous undiagnosed minor strokes causing damage to the brain and leading to more sleepiness during the day, he said. |
| "What we really encourage is that all patients who have breaks in sleeping in the night should have sleep apnoea screening." | "What we really encourage is that all patients who have breaks in sleeping in the night should have sleep apnoea screening." |
| Every year around 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. |