Getting a good night’s sleep should rank high on the list of heart-healthy behaviors. A new study from Europe followed more than 17,000 adults for ten to fourteen years. None of them had any signs of heart disease at the start of the study, and all answered questions about their physical activity, diet, alcohol consumption, smoking habits and sleep duration at that time.
Participants who followed all four of the traditional healthy lifestyle approaches, exercising regularly, eating a Mediterranean style diet, not smoking and drinking moderately, were significantly less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke and 67% less likely to die from one than people whose repertoire included only one of these factors.
Sleeping at least 7 hours nightly acted synergistically with the other good health habits. Those who got enough sleep as well as physical activity, good diet, moderate alcohol consumption and tobacco abstention lowered their risk of dying of a stroke or heart attack by 83%.
[European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, online July 3, 2013]
If you’d like tips on how to rack up seven hours consistently, consult our Guide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep.
