NOT ENOUGH SLEEP MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEART

Not getting enough sleep can be hazardous to your heart.In today's society, people are getting less and less sleep. So, researchers at Jichi Medical University in Japan wanted to find out how it is affecting heart health.The four year study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, monitored the sleep habits of over one thousand senior citizens with high blood pressure. The average age of the participants was 70. Researchers found a lack of sleep increased the risk of heart attack, stroke or sudden cardiac death.Those who slept seven and a half hours a night or less were more likely to suffer a cardiac event than those who slept longer. This was especially true when their blood pressure elevated during the night. Researchers say doctors should be sure to ask patients with hypertension about how much sleep they are getting.