Is There A Connection Between Sleeping Pills And Heart Disease?

Sidney C. Smith Jr., M.D., Professor of Medicine; Director, Center for Cardiovascular Science and Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

December 24, 2008

Question: Is There A Connection Between Sleeping Pills And Heart Disease?

Answer: Certain questions have been raised about the connection between sleeping pills and coronary heart disease. In general, in those studies, we haven't found a direct relationship. That is, we don't think sleeping pills cause coronary heart disease, but as you know, there are people who have sleep apnea; they have difficulty sleeping. They're overweight, they're waking up at night, they may be having arrhythmias, and they take a sleeping pill.

ABC News Photo Illustration

Heart Disease And The Causes? Watch Video

Well, in that instance, people that are taking sleeping pills, have trouble sleeping, and they have a certain number of them who have sleep apnea, so sleeping pills are associated, but not causally related. We don't have any real evidence that I'm aware of that sleeping pills per se cause heart disease. People that take sleeping pills, however, may have associated problems with their heart that make it difficult to sleep.

Next: How Does Diabetes And Obesity Affect My Risk Of Developing Heart Disease?

Previous: A European Study Found A Positive Association Between Siesta And Heart Attack Prevention. Should I Be Napping?