You’ve probably heard that getting too little sleep can have disastrous effects on your health, but did you know that the same holds true if you sleep too much? According to a recent study at the American College of Cardiology, getting too much sleep is just as bad for your heart as not getting enough.
The report reveals a pattern between the amount of sleep people get and atherosclerosis — the collection of fats and plaques in the arteries. The thicker your heart structures are indicates the level of plaque buildup, putting you at risk for cardiovascular issues and stroke.
Researchers said the important thing is to balance your sleep cycles and noted that six to eight hours of sleep a night are ideal. They found that the artery walls in patients who sleep less or more than this amount each night suffered plaque buildups.
The amount of sleep you may need varies on age and other factors. One of every 3 American adults doesn’t sleep enough according to the CDC, which can contribute to poor mental health, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and even death. “The message, based on our findings, is ‘sleep well, but not too well.’ Getting too little sleep appears bad for your health but too much seems to be harmful as well,” said lead author Evangelos Oikonomou.
Source: StudyFinds Sept. 7, 2020