27 September 2007 25 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

New research indicates that too much sleep may be just as harmful as too little.

With seven hours seen as the optimal amount of sleep for the average adult, the study subjects who cut the duration of their sleep from seven hours to five hours a night had a 1.7-fold increased risk of death from all causes within the ensuing 11-17 years, according to the research, presented Monday to the British Sleep Society

Those sleeping 5 hours or less also showed increased risk of cardiovascular problems. It also showed that those sleeping 8+ hours had an increased mortality rate.

More surprisingly, scientists found those individuals who increased the number of hours they slept per night from seven to eight hours or more were more than twice as likely to die within 11-17 years as those who kept sleeping for seven. They were more likely to die from non-cardiovascular diseases.

Seems like this study is saying that sleep length is often linked to other outside health and social issues and that getting being able to sleep for a consistent 7 hours indicates and promotes good health in general. I’ll be sticking to the go to bed when I’m tired and wake up when I feel rested plan.

[via cba]