After carrying out a study over the course of four years, researchers from Chia Nan University in Taiwan concluded that insomnia patients have increased risk of stroke. The risk increases among young adults, found the study.

Risk of having stroke increases by eight times among insomniacs aged between 18 and 34 in comparison to their peers who enjoy sound sleep. The study clearly reveals that it is very important to have a good sleep routine.

By not having so, it can prove quite harmful for health and especially at young age, said Dr. Demetrius Lopes, Director of the Interventional Cerebrovascular Center at Rush University in Chicago. For the study, health records of more than 21,000 people with insomnia and 64,000 people without insomnia in Taiwan were compared.

Both the groups were not found to have a previous diagnosis of stroke or sleep apnea. Patients were followed for four years and during that course 583 insomniacs and 962 non-insomniacs were admitted to a hospital for stroke.

After assessing other factors, it was found that people with insomnia had an increased risk of stroke when compared with people who had slept well. Researcher Ya-Wen Hsu said severity of insomnia has a direct bearing on stroke risk. It shall be noted that the study has not proved cause and effect of the same.

"Our findings also highlight the clinical importance of screening for insomnia at younger ages. Treating insomnia is also very important, whether by medication or cognitive therapy", affirmed Dr. Hsu.

Dr. Hsu has recommended people with chronic insomnia to check with their doctors and take proper treatment. Severity level of insomnia differs and can range from occasional restlessness in night, trouble falling asleep to chronic sleeplessness. Increased level of insomnia is related to greater risk of stroke. The study has been published in 'Stroke, an American Heart Association' journal.