A recent research published in European Journal of Preventive Cardiology reveals that small changes in sleep, exercise, and diet can significantly impact heart health.
The study suggests that gaining an additional 11 minutes of sleep could potentially reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 10%. However, this headline might be misleading.
The research focused on the combined effects of increased sleep, exercise, and a healthier diet. It was found that achieving a 10% risk reduction through sleep alone would require an extra 30 minutes nightly.
During an eight-year study involving 53,000 participants, around 2,000 cardiovascular events were reported, representing 3.8% of the study population.
If all participants had increased their sleep to achieve the 10% reduction, the percentage of cardiovascular events would have decreased to 3.4%.
Getting quality sleep plays a vital role in heart health as it helps lower cortisol levels, subsequently reducing blood pressure. Sleep deprivation can lead to increased stress on blood vessels and atherosclerosis.
Waking up before your body is ready can trigger a surge of stress hormones, impacting your nervous system in the morning.
A study in the United States revealed a 25% increase in heart attacks on Monday mornings following a time shift that resulted in an hour of lost sleep.
While hitting the snooze button may not save your life instantly, it could contribute to your overall well-being in the long run.
This article addresses Francesca Stuckey-Howard’s question from Plymouth about the impact of an extra 10 minutes of sleep.
For any further inquiries, please reach out to us via email at: questions@sciencefocus.com or message us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (include your name and location).
Explore more:
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
