Stress & Insomnia Raise The Risk Of Afib In Postmenopausal Women

Atrial fibrillation (commonly referred to as Afib or AF) is a type of irregular heartbeat that generally affects older adults. This heart arrhythmia may not be inherently life-threatening, but it can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke, so it’s definitely something to keep tabs on.

A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that one in four women may develop Afib after menopause and deemed a history of stressful events and insomnia as two major contributing factors. 

Researchers analyzed questionnaires from over 83,000 women ages 50-79 from a major U.S. study called the Women’s Health Initiative, noticing that the risk of Afib increased by 4% for women with insomnia, and 2% for women who had reported one or more significant stressful events. 

Questions related to stressful events touched on topics like illness, divorce, loss of a loved one, financial pressure, abuse, and more. 

This finding is important because it confirms the link between sleep, mental health, and heart health in women. 

Not only does this encourage healthcare providers to consider these factors when diagnosing and treating Afib, but also reiterates the importance of getting consistent, high-quality sleep, tending to your mental health, and reaching out to a professional to help you get there should you need it.