“We feel strongly that individuals with chronic insomnia, particularly younger persons, [should] see their physician to have stroke risk factors assessed and, when indicated, treated appropriately,” said senior author Ya-Wen Hsu, PhD, of the Department of Medical Research at Chi-Mei Medical Center. “Our findings also highlight the clinical importance of screening for insomnia at younger ages. Treating insomnia is also important, whether by medication or cognitive therapy.
“Individuals should not simply accept insomnia as a benign, although difficult, condition that carries no major health risks,” Dr. Hsu added. “They should seek medical evaluation of other possible risk factors that might contribute to stroke.”
—Erik Greb