Scientists Australia have compared the data from 116,632 people from 21 countries and concluded that six to eight hours of sleep per night is the best for our heart and overall health. Their study was published in the European Heart Journal.
For people who slept more than eight hours a night, the study found an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, thrombosis, and premature death. The researchers recommend going to the doctor if you sleep more than nine hours a night.
The more you sleep, the more dangerous it is: According to the study, people who slept between nine and ten hours a night had a 17 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death. For those who slept for more than ten hours, the risk even rose to 41 percent.
But too short sleep episodes do not do us any good. Less than six hours of sleep causes overweight. Less sleep also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and heart attack.
The study shows that the optimal sleep duration is six to eight hours per day for adults.
What if technology could help us get more out of it? Researcher Dan Gartenberg is working on a technology that stimulates deep sleep, the most regenerative stage which (among other wonderful things) might help us consolidate our memories and form our personalities. Find out more about how playing sounds that mirror brain waves during this stage might lead to deeper sleep — and its potential benefits on our health, memory, and ability to learn.
