Seven hours sleep is optimal

People who sleep fewer or more than seven hours a night are at increased risk for heart disease, according to a new study.  

It included more than 30 000 adults who were healthy at the start of the study. As they followed the participants, the researchers found that the risk of developing heart disease was more than double for those who slept less than five hours a day (including naps) and 1.5 times greater for those who slept nine hours or more, CBS News reported.  

The findings were published in the journal Sleep.  

It's not clear why sleeping less or more than seven hours a night increases the risk of heart disease, said the West Virginia University School of Medicine researchers. 

But they suggested it might be helpful for people to discuss their sleep habits - including changes in sleep duration - with their doctor, CBS News reported.  (August 2010)
 

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