Getting less than SIX hours’ sleep a night ‘increases chance of early death’ from a heart attack or stroke

GETTING less than six hours’ sleep a night doubles the chance of dying from a heart attack or stroke in at-risk people.

A study shows those with metabolic syndrome — type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity combined — need more sleep to survive.

3

The long-term survey of 1,344 patients, average age 49, is the first to measure sleep in a lab.

The study is also the first to look at the impact of sleep duration on the chances of early death in those with a common group of heart disease risk factors.

Researchers said the effect was particularly strong in those with elevated blood pressure or poor glucose metabolism.

3

MOST READ IN HEALTH

'WE DIDN'T KNOW THE DANGERS'

Parents tell of agony after daughter, 7, was left with huge disfiguring scars from holiday henna tattoo

SEX CLUES

This is how much sex you SHOULD be having... according to your age

'STOP FRYING YOUR SKIN'

Brave mum posts graphic daily photos of her face as she battles skin cancer which 'ate away' at her forehead

WEIGHTY ISSUE

Size 18 mum says she lost SEVEN STONE while she was pregnant by going on a juice diet... but is it healthy?

Those with risk factors who slept under six hours a night were 2.1 times more likely to die of heart disease.

The study was an observational study, so the outcome cannot guarantee cause-and-effect, but it proves the association between lack of sleep and early death in people who are deemed at-risk from heart disease.

3

Dr Julio Fernandez-Mendoza, of Penn State College of Medicine, said: “Taking care of your sleep is important if you want to lower your risk of heart disease or stroke.”

He added: "Future clinical trials are needed to determine whether lengthening sleep, in combination with lowering blood pressure and glucose, improves the prognosis of people with the metabolic syndrome."