The study, published in the journal Hypertension, revealed women who slept five hours or less were twice as likely to suffer from hypertension as women who slept seven hours or more a night. There was no difference between those men sleeping less than five hours and those sleeping seven hours or more.

"Sustained sleep curtailment, ensuing excessive daytime sleepiness and the higher cardiovascular risk are causes for concern," study leader Francesco Cappuccio, of the University of Warwick's Warwick Medical School, said in a statement. "Emerging evidence also suggests a potential role for sleep deprivation as a predictor or risk factor for conditions like obesity and diabetes."

The research team analyzed data from a study of volunteers from 20 civil service departments based in London. The sample included 6,592 participants -- more than 4,000 men and more than 1,500 women.

Hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The Warwick team defined hypertension as blood pressure equal to or higher than 140/90 mm Hg -- or if the subject made regular use of blood pressure medications.