In the News: Less than 7.5 hours sleep a night can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes for those with high blood pressure
A study conducted by a team from the Jichi Medical University in Japan, and reported in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, concluded that elderly people sleeping for less than 7.5 hours a night increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 27 per cent. The study was conducted on 1255 participants with an average age of 70 over 23 months and whilst the scientists have indicated that the results may not apply to younger people, another study conducted at Warwick University in 2008 concluded that more than 7 hours sleep a night can reduce heart attack risk. However, they also concluded sleeping more than 8 hours a night doubled the risk of dying from all causes. 7.5 hours looks like the right answer … so set those alarm clocks!!!!