Lack of sleep won’t just make you tired

Middle aged people who sleep 5 hours or less, may be increasing their risk of developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure, particularly systolic blood pressure, is directly linked to increased risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, kidney disease, heart failure and death.

A recent study found that 24% of people ages 32 to 59 who slept for 5 hours or less a night developed high blood pressure. This compared to 12% of those who got 7 or 8 hours of sleep.

The people who slept for 5 hours or less also exercised less, and were more likely to have a higher body mass index. (BMI is a measure used to estimate your total body fat). They were also more likely to suffer from depression and diabetes, and higher incidence of daytime sleepiness.

In previous studies, lack of sleep has been shown to increase appetite and compromise insulin sensitivity.

Remember: Sleep is an important mechanism that allows the heart to slow down for a significant part of the day. A good night’s sleep is very important for good health.

Source: The Journal of the American Heart Association http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3038708