Study: Lack of Sleep = Increased Heart Disease and Stroke Risk

Add another problem to the growing list of issues that can be caused by not getting enough sleep.  A research team at the University of Warwick in Great Britain says individuals who don’t get at least six hours of sleep each night face a 48% higher chance of developing or dying from heart disease and a 15% greater chance of developing or dying of a stroke.

Researchers said staying up to late for getting up too early is like a “ticking time bomb” for your health, and they called for sleep deprived individuals to act now to reduce their risks.

Study co-author Dr. Michelle Miller of the University of Warwick was quoted by BBC:

“There is an expectation in today’s society to fit more into our lives. The whole work/life balance struggle is causing too many of us to trade in precious sleeping time to ensure we complete all the jobs we believe are expected of us.

Chronic short sleep produces hormones and chemicals in the body which increase the risk of developing heart disease and strokes, and other conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes and obesity.”

Source: BBC