Relax and reduce the risk of heart attack

Good sleep reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by a considerable 63%. This is according to a study from Switzerland.

For up to ten years, a research team from the Swiss Cantonal Hospital in Lausanne (Chuv) and the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm) observed over 15,000 people for the study.

A Healthy Sleep Score, which is made up of several points, was calculated for all study participants.

Full points were awarded to those who slept seven to eight hours a night, never or hardly ever suffered from insomnia and had no sleep apnea or excessive tiredness during the day.

The incidence of heart attacks and strokes was then monitored for eight to ten years.

What robs us of sleep?

Compared to sleeping patterns 100 years ago, we are missing an average of 2 hours per night. Where have they gone?

There is a misconception that people who sleep less are more active and productive. But they are not.

We always want to be available and would prefer to switch ourselves into standby mode - we find it difficult to really switch off and let go - we could miss something. This is not without consequences.

Our leisure activities also encourage unhealthy sleeping patterns. This is reflected in the intensity and duration of our sleep

Ambient temperature and background noise can also have an unfavorable effect on the biorhythm and therefore also on sleep.

We should take care of our sleep

"These results encourage us to take care of our sleep, just as we take care of our bodies," says study author Pedro Marques-Vidal.

The study has now been published in the "European Heart Journal".