Little sleep ''linked with heart risks''
11/11/2008
A person should concentrate on getting a good night''s sleep in bed if they want to keep their heart healthy, if a new report is anything to go on.
Research carried out by Japan''s Jichi Medical University in Tochigi monitored the sleeping patterns of 1,255 people which suffered from hypertension, with the average participant aged 70.
It was understood that chances of a heart attack were more likely for those with less sleep and an increase in blood pressure than people getting a full night of rest.
Author Kzuo Eguchi said of the study: "In conclusion, shorter duration of sleep is a predictor of incident cardiovascular disease in elderly individuals with hypertension.
"Physicians should inquire about sleep duration in the risk assessment of patients with hypertension."
The Sleep Council recommended that people see a doctor if their sleep habits cause them to fall asleep mid-conversation or during meals or physically enact dreams.
