Wednesday 29 June 2022 06:42 PM Getting enough sleep is now officially a marker of good heart health trends now
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It's long been said that getting a good night's sleep will help you live longer — and now it's officially been signed off as a key marker of good health.
A leading panel of cardiologists have added sleep duration to their list of 'essential' steps to maintain a healthy heart.
The American Heart Association states the ideal amount is between seven and nine hours kip each night.
The American Heart Association has added getting seven-to-nine hours of sleep a night to its list of tips for good heart health
In 2010, the AHA published a list of seven tips for good cardiovascular health called 'Life’s Simple 7'.
It included factors like a healthy diet, regular exercise and quitting smoking,
While the list has been refined and added to over the years, today's addition of sleep is the first time a new tip has been added.
AHA president Dr Donald Lloyd-Jones said the move reflected latest research about risk factors for heart disease.
'Sleep impacts overall health,' he said.
'People who have healthier sleep patterns manage health factors such as weight, blood pressure or risk for type 2 diabetes more effectively.'
He added that new technology allowing people to track their sleep at home also meant they could now be told what to aim for to improve their heart health.
'Advances in ways to measure sleep, such as with wearable devices, now offer people the ability to reliably and routinely monitor their sleep habits at home,' he said.
The AHA, a charity, recommends adults get between seven-to-nine hours of sleep per night.
