Insomnia does more than keep you up at night and bleary eyed in the morning. Recent research has found that it also puts significant stress on the heart.
In fact, people who have a sleep shortfall (less than 6 hours a night) face an increased risk of heart disease.
A 2008 University of Chicago study found that getting fewer z's could cause increased calcification of the arteries. Too much calcification can lead to artery disease – something you'll definitely want to avoid.
Even more recently, a 2011 study found that there was a staggering 48% increased risk of development and death from heart disease in people who have a sleep shortfall. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, followed over 400,000 people for up to 25 years – so it's one of the most significant science reviews in recent times.
Those people also had a 15 percent increased chance of stroke.
Sleep longer for heart health
But before you pull the doona back over your head, get a load of this equally scary statistic – people who sleep for 9 or more hours a night are also at risk.
In fact, their risk of developing or dying from coronary heart disease is a whopping 38 percent, with a 65 percent increased risk of stroke.
Should short sleepers be worried?
Researchers of all these studies have pointed out that being a short or long sleeper doesn't mean you are destined to develop or die from heart-related problems. It's simply that the findings suggest there is an increased chance – your risk factors are higher if you have a short or long sleep.
Diane Lauderdale from the University of Chicago was quoted by webmd.com as saying, "It's pretty safe advice for the majority of people that sleeping less than six hours a night is probably not good."
After all, during sleep your heart slows down and you experience a lower heart rate and blood pressure. Too little sleep and your heart doesn't get the rest it needs.
So try hitting the hay a little earlier this week. Your heart will thank you for it.
Originally published on Jul 13, 2015
