The sleep sweet spot that reduces heart attack and stroke risk

A good night’s sleep can do wonders for your mental and cognitive health. It helps keep us focused, alert and simply happier.

And research has found that getting the right amount of rest each night could also be the key to avoiding a danger down the road, like a major heart event, possibly even stroke.

But, like the story of Goldilocks reminds us, to benefit the most from sleep we need to find the sweet spot — not too much and not too little, but just right…

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Sleep duration and inflammation levels

This study delved into the data from 14,079 people who participated in the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. And it was no flash-in-the-pan look that could be easily ignored.

In fact, participants were followed for approximately eight years to determine if they died due to complications of heart disease, including heart attack, heart failure or stroke.

And every participant was assigned to one of three groups based on their average sleep length. Researchers then looked at each person’s CRP (C-reactive protein) levels — an inflammatory marker linked to heart problems.

And they gave each person a number based on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk scores. Doctors and researchers use the ASCVD scoring system to predict the chances of death from heart attack, stroke or hardening of the arteries over the next ten years.

And here was their conclusion…

Sleeping six to seven hours a night reduces your risk of dying from heart problems, such as a heart attack or stroke.

Yup. No more, no less, or heart disease could be in your future.

Here’s why…

The team found that levels of the inflammatory marker CRP were elevated in those with longer or shorter sleep durations.

“Participants who sleep less or more than six to seven hours have higher ASCVD risk scores, which is likely driven by heightened inflammation as measured by CRP, which was found to be higher among those who had less or more sleep,” said lead author, Dr. Kartik Gupta, a resident in the hospital’s Division of Internal Medicine.

In other words, sleeping too much or too little skyrockets your body’s inflammation and can damage your heart and blood vessels!

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Getting the rest you need reduces serious risks

So if you want to maintain the best cardiovascular health possible, six to seven hours each night is the optimal amount of time to sleep. According to the researchers, it’s the time your body uses to clear out toxic proteins that lead to high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. And it’s the right amount of sleep to combat the inflammation that could lead to a heart attack or stroke down the road.

A few tips for better sleep straight from the doctors at the Mayo Clinic include:

  • Sticking to a sleep schedule
  • Avoiding heavy meals, alcohol and caffeine before bed
  • Limiting daytime naps
  • Getting regular exercise
  • Creating a restful environment free of light-emitting devices, including smartphones

It’s about your sleep. But it’s also about the health of your heart.

Editor’s note: What do you really know about stroke? The truth is, only 10% of stroke survivors recover almost completely, and all doctors can offer is what to do after a stroke occurs. That’s unacceptable considering 80% of strokes are preventable! Click here to discover how to escape The Stroke Syndrome: 5 Signs it’s Stalking You — Plus the Hidden Causes and Preventive Measures You’ve Never Heard About!

Sources:

Sleep tips: 6 steps to better sleep — Mayo Clinic

For a healthy heart, sleeping 6 to 7 hours each night is best — Study Finds

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

By Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst is a board-certified Doctor of Chiropractic, with more than 20 years of experience. She has dedicated herself to helping others enjoy life at every age through the use of alternative medicine and natural wellness options. Dr. Schmedthorst enjoys sharing her knowledge with the alternative healthcare community, providing solutions for men and women who are ready to take control of their health the natural way.

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