Getting good sleep is a critical part of optimal health. As we’ve shared previously, getting good sleep is connected to a longer overall lifespan and good cardiovascular health. Now a new study backs up the connection between good sleep and overall heart health.

A new study presented by the European Society of Cardiology’s Congress 2022 recruited more than 7,000 participants from the ages of 50 to 75 who were free of cardiovascular disease from 2008 – 2011. The researchers went beyond mere sleep duration, looking at five different sleep variables and their impact on cardiovascular health, and assigned each participant a score of 0 to 5. Those with optimal scores were well rested in every sense: they got 7-8 hours of sleep each night, rarely or ever experienced insomnia, didn’t suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness or sleep apnea, and were what most would consider morning people.

Over the course of the next ten years, researchers checked on the participants every two years to measure their risk for coronary heart disease and stroke. What they found was eye-opening, even for those interested in the impact of good sleep on overall health. For every one point rise in sleep score, the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke decreased by 22%. Moreover, the researchers found that if all participants had an optimal sleep score, 72% of new cases of coronary heart disease and stroke could be avoided each year.

Achieving a good night’s sleep can be challenging, particularly in our 24/7, always-on society. But the research is pretty straightforward: getting your sleep issues under control is critical to a healthy life.

Source: With Optimal Sleep ‘72% of New Cases of Coronary Heart Disease & Stroke Might Be Avoided’ (Sleep Review)