People who sleep between 7-8 hours are 75% less likely to suffer a stroke, study finds

One study shows that getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis reduces the risk of having a stroke.

French researchers defined the best type of shut-eye as lasting seven to eight hours.

He also said that the best sleepers rarely toss and turn during the night.

Scientists monitored the nocturnal habits of more than 50 over 7,000 to uncover the link.

The study, which followed participants for nearly a decade, showed that people with good quality sleep were 75 percent less likely to have a stroke.

Experts now say that most strokes – and even cases of heart disease – are preventable if everyone gets good sleep.

Study author Dr Abubakari Nambima, from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, said: ‘Given our busy, 24/7 lives the low prevalence of good sleepers was expected.

‘The importance of sleep quality and quantity for heart health should be taught early in life when healthy behaviors are established.

‘Reducing night-time noise and stress at work can both help improve sleep.’

Dozens of studies have linked not getting enough sleep to heart disease and high blood pressure – which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

It’s not clear exactly how sleep helps the heart.

But not closing your eyes enough increases your risk of developing unhealthy habits that can damage the heart, such as eating poorly and not getting enough exercise.

Dr Nambima and his colleagues examined the sleep habits of 7,200 participants in an earlier study.

The volunteers, who ranged in age from 50 to 75 and were in good cardiovascular health, underwent a physical examination and were questioned about their sleep habits and medical history.

They shared how long they slept, whether they were a morning person and if they had insomnia, sleep apnea, or daytime fatigue.

For each of these five factors, participants were given a score if their sleep was optimal and zero if not.

Sleeping seven to eight hours per night, being a morning person and not having insomnia, daytime sleepiness or sleep apnea would score five points.

Zero to one marks were considered bad.

Researchers monitored the patients and compared their scores against cases of heart disease and stroke.

The findings, to be presented Saturday at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona, ​​show that 10 percent of participants had an optimal sleep score and eight percent were poor sleepers.

During the study, 274 suffered coronary heart disease or stroke.

The team found that those who scored five were 75 percent less likely to suffer cardiovascular complications than those who scored zero or one.

And the risk fell 22 percent for every single point increase in sleep scores.

Researchers said the findings suggest that there could be a 72 percent reduction in heart disease and stroke cases if everyone had optimal sleep scores.

Participants completed additional sleep questionnaires at two follow-up visits, with 25 percent reporting that their sleep had worsened, while 23 percent said it had improved.

The team found that every single point increase in sleep scores over time was associated with a seven percent drop in the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.

Dr Nambima said: ‘Our study demonstrates the potential of good sleep to maintain heart health and suggests that improved sleep is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.

‘We also found that most people have difficulty sleeping. Given that heart disease is the top cause of death worldwide, there is a need for greater awareness on the importance of good sleep to maintain a healthy heart.’