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

People who sleep well are less likely to have a stroke, a study suggests.

French researchers, who monitored the shut-eye habits of more than 7,000 over-50s, found sub-optimal sleep is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. 

Those who reported getting at least eight hours, not feeling tired during the day and never suffering insomnia were three-quarters less likely to suffer heart complications than those who struggled to sleep.

Seven in 10 of these cardiovascular conditions could be prevented if everyone was a good sleeper, the findings suggest.

Study author Dr Aboubakari Nambiema said: ‘The low prevalence of good sleepers was expected given our busy, 24/7 lives.

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

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

Dozens of studies have linked not getting enough sleep with heart disease and high blood pressure — which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

It is not clear exactly how sleep helps the heart. But earlier research has shown poor sleepers are more likely to have inflammation which raises the risk of heart problems. 

And not getting enough shut-eye raises the risk of developing unhealthy habits that harm the heart, such as making poor food choices and a lack of exercise. 

The team, from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, examined the sleep habits of 7,200 participants included in an earlier study.

The volunteers, who were aged 50 to 75 and in good heart health, underwent a physical examination and were quizzed on their sleep habits and medical history.

They shared long they slept, whether they were a morning person and if they suffered insomnia, sleep apnoea or tiredness in the daytime.

For each of these five factors, the participants were awarded one point if their sleep was optimal and zero if it was not.

Sleeping for seven to eight hours per night, being a morning person and not having insomnia, daytime sleepiness or sleep apnoea would receive five marks. Zero to one marks was considered poor.

The researchers monitored the patients for 10 years and compared their sleep scores against cases of coronary heart disease and stroke.

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

Over the course of the study, 274 suffered coronary heart disease or a stroke.

Those who scored five points were 75 per cent less likely to suffer from the heart complications, compared to those who scored a zero or one, the team found.

And the risk fell by 22 per cent for every one point rise in sleep score.

The findings suggests that heart disease and stroke cases could be slashed by 72 per cent if everyone had optimal sleep scores, the researchers said.

The participants completed additional sleep questionnaires at two follow up visits, with 25 per cent reporting their sleep had worsened, while 23 per cent said it improved.

The team found that every one point increase in sleep score over time was linked with a seven per cent fall in the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.

Dr. Nambiema said: ‘Our study illustrates the potential for sleeping well to preserve heart health and suggests that improving sleep is linked with lower risks of coronary heart disease and stroke.

‘We also found that the vast majority of people have sleep difficulties. Given that cardiovascular disease is the top cause of death worldwide, greater awareness is needed on the importance of good sleep for maintaining a healthy heart.’