A good night’s sleep combined with a healthy lifestyle may lead to a 65% decrease in the risk of cardiovascular diseases as well as a 83% drop in sudden heart attacks, according to a Dutch study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Those who follow a healthy diet, regular exercise, do not drink excessively and do not smoke, alongside healthy sleeping habits, have proved to be less likely to develop heart problems.
“If all participants follow the five healthy lifestyle habits, 36% of cardiovascular diseases and 57% of fatal cardiovascular issues may, theoretically, be avoided or delayed,” said the researchers.
A previous study conducted by the same researchers concluded that those who slept for periods under seven hours and woke up tired in the morning had a 63% bigger chance of developing heart problems than those who slept for longer periods.
The leading researcher of the study, Monique Verschuren, revealed that seven hours sleep is the average and “probably enough for the majority of people”.
The study took place over a period of 12 years in Holland and included 6,672 men and 7,967 women aged between 20 and 65.
