Sleep and cardiovascular risk: how much is too much of a good thing?

Dominik Linz, Kadhim Kadhim, Jonathan M. Kalman, R. Doug McEvoy, Prashanthan Sanders

Research output: Contribution to journalEditorial

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In addition to physical activity and a balanced diet, sleeping for 6–8 h a day is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. Getting sufficient sleep helps regulate appetite, improves immune system function, and is associated with lower cardiovascular (CV) risk and mortality.1 Moreover, specific sleeping habits such as daytime napping may further influence CV risk. Naps are brief sleeps, typically taken during the day, and can range from several minutes to several hours. The frequency varies from an occasional nap to several planned rest periods daily for habitual nappers, which can be reflective of regional and cultural factors. Generally, long sleep is considered to be a healthy habit; recent consensus manuscripts by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend that the optimal duration of sleep for adults is ≥7 h per night.2 However, it remains unclear whether excessive sleep duration or daytime napping may expose individuals to greater risk of death and CV disease.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1630-1632
Number of pages3
JournalEuropean Heart Journal
Volume40
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 May 2019

Keywords

  • Sleep
  • cardiovascular risk
  • daytime napping

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