Sleep has many advantages, although not all are known so far. According to a study presented at the 70th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology, people who sleep between six and seven hours a night are less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke compared to those who sleep less or more.
The results are valid even for people with known conditions or risk factors for heart disease or stroke, according to Europa Press.
Sleep is often overlooked as something that can influence cardiovascular disease, and may be one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce cardiovascular risk According to our data, sleeping from six to seven hours per night is associated with more favorable heart health, explains Dr. Kartik Gupta, of the Division of Internal Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, in statements reported by this newspaper.
The study confirms that sleep, like diet, smoking, and exercise, can play a determining role in a person’s cardiovascular risk.
Changing sleep habits
For the study, the researchers included data from nearly 15,000 people in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2010. Participants were followed for a median of 7.5 years to determine if they had died of a heart attack, heart failure, or stroke. The average age was 46 years, and less than 10 percent of the participants had a history of heart disease, heart failure, or stroke.
The study then evaluated participants’ risk scores for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and C-reactive protein levels (CRP), a key inflammatory marker known to be associated with heart disease. It is a protein made in the liver that rises when there is inflammation in the body.
Participants who slept less than six hours or more than seven hours were more likely to die from heart causes. However, the risk score of ECA was the same in those who slept six to seven hours compared to those who slept more than seven hours, Gupta explains.
The investigation leaves another good news. According to the researchers, unlike some heart disease risk factors that cannot be modified (age or genetic age), sleep habits can be adjusted. Therefore, it would be something to take into account during medical visits.
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