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A new study says that that sleeping less than six hours each night increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
The new study was published Tuesday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which followed 4,000 people with an average age of 46, two-thirds of them were men, and all participants had no known history of heart disease.
The researchers found that getting less than six hours of sleep per night increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis anywhere in the body by 27 percent.
Researchers also found that the highest risk came from participants who had a poor quality of sleep. People who have difficulty falling asleep or awaken infrequently were 34 percent more likely to develop atherosclerosis compared to those whose sleep quality was good.
Another surprising finding the researchers made was that women who slept over eight hours per night also showed an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis.
The terms arteriosclerosis/atherosclerosis are sometimes used interchangeably, but atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis, which refers to a buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances, creating plaque, inside and on artery walls, which can lead to a restriction of blood flow.
If the plaque bursts, it can trigger a blood clot, which in turn, can cause a heart attack or stroke. Atherosclerosis can affect arteries anywhere in the body.
Atherosclerosis is treatable and may be preventable. What the study has found is a previously unrealized method of prevention, which is to ensure that people get six hours or more sleep each night.
Additional preventative measures include pharmaceuticals, physical activity, and diet.
