07.10.2024

Gay people are more likely to have trouble sleeping

Homosexual men are significantly more likely to have trouble falling asleep, require medication to overcome insomnia or wake feeling unrested compared to straight or bisexual males, a US study found.

Gay people are more likely to experience trouble sleeping, new research reveals. Lesbians are more at risk of struggling to fall or stay asleep, needing anti-insomnia drugs to help them nod off and feeling they need more shut eye in the morning, the research adds.

Previous findings reveal gay or bisexual people are more likely to smoke and suffer severe psychological stress, both of which disturb sleep. Over a year, up to 40 percent of US citizens report suffering from insomnia.

Long term lack of sleep has been linked to poor heart health, depression and an increased risk of early death. Gay people are more likely to experience trouble sleeping, new research reveals (stock)

GETTING JUST THREE HOURS SLEEP A NIGHT ADDS 3CM TO YOUR WAISTLINE

Lack of sleep could be expanding your waistline, research suggested in July. People who get an average of six hours sleep a night have a 3cm thicker waist than those who have nine hours, a study found.

Shorter sleep is also associated with lower amounts of ‘good’ cholesterol in the blood, which previous research demonstrates helps to protect against conditions such as heart disease.

Study author Dr Laura Hardie from the University of Leeds, said: ‘Because we found that adults who reported sleeping less than their peers were more likely to be overweight or obese, our findings highlight the importance of getting enough sleep.

‘How much sleep we need differs between people, but the current consensus is that seven to nine hours is best for most adults.’

The researchers did not speculate on why lack of sleep causes weight gain, however, past studies suggest it leads to excessive amounts of the hormone ghrelin, which is linked to appetite.

How the research was carried out

Researchers from the National Center for Health Statistics in Atlanta analyzed 46,909 men and 56,080 women who took part in the National Health Interview Survey between 2013 and 2015.

The study’s participants were asked how many hour sleeps they get on average in a 24-hour period.

This was then compared to the National Sleep Foundation’s recommendations of seven-to-nine hours for adults aged between 18 and 64 years old, and seven-to-eight hours for those 65 and over.

They were also asked if they had trouble falling or staying asleep, had used insomnia medication or woken feeling unrested at least four times in the past week.

Their sexual orientation was also noted.

Gay people are more at-risk of insomnia

Results reveal gay men are significantly more likely to have trouble falling asleep, require medication to overcome insomnia or wake feeling unrested compared to straight or bisexual males.

Lesbians are more likely to struggle to fall or stay asleep, need anti-insomnia drugs to help them nod off and feel poorly rested in the morning.

Bisexual women are more at-risk of having difficulty falling and staying asleep compared to straight females. The findings were published in the journal Sleep Health.

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