Your risk of heart disease depends on how much you sleep
| Updated: Jan 16, 2019, 12:49 IST
The number of hours you sleep could predict your risk of developing heart disease, a new study has found.
For the study, researchers examined the patterns of 3,974 bank employees. Two-thirds of the group were men.
The team discovered men who slept for less than six hours were at risk of heart disease. The risk was less for those who slept for close to eight hours.
The team also found people who slept less had a 27 percent chance of developing a cardiovascular disease.
"Cardiovascular disease is a major global problem and we are preventing and treating it using several approaches, including pharmaceuticals, physical activity and diet," Jose M Ordovas, a researcher at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) in Madrid, told a news portal.
Adding, "But the study emphasizes we have to include sleep as one of the weapons we use to fight heart disease -- a factor we are compromising every day," he added.
Researchers also warn against drinking alcohol and coffee before bed as it can cause you to stay awake.
"Many people think alcohol is a good inducer of sleep, but there's a rebound effect. If you drink alcohol, you may wake up after a short period of sleep and have a hard time getting back to sleep. And if you do get back to sleep, it's often a poor-quality sleep," explained.
Previous studies have also found too little sleep can mess with your glucose levels, blood pressure and cause inflammation. Milk, cherries, bananas and almonds are food to add to your diet as they will help you sleep.
For the study, researchers examined the patterns of 3,974 bank employees. Two-thirds of the group were men.
The team discovered men who slept for less than six hours were at risk of heart disease. The risk was less for those who slept for close to eight hours.
The team also found people who slept less had a 27 percent chance of developing a cardiovascular disease.
"Cardiovascular disease is a major global problem and we are preventing and treating it using several approaches, including pharmaceuticals, physical activity and diet," Jose M Ordovas, a researcher at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) in Madrid, told a news portal.
Adding, "But the study emphasizes we have to include sleep as one of the weapons we use to fight heart disease -- a factor we are compromising every day," he added.
Researchers also warn against drinking alcohol and coffee before bed as it can cause you to stay awake.
"Many people think alcohol is a good inducer of sleep, but there's a rebound effect. If you drink alcohol, you may wake up after a short period of sleep and have a hard time getting back to sleep. And if you do get back to sleep, it's often a poor-quality sleep," explained.
Previous studies have also found too little sleep can mess with your glucose levels, blood pressure and cause inflammation. Milk, cherries, bananas and almonds are food to add to your diet as they will help you sleep.