People nowadays are busy with their work or with anything that consumes their time. Some get so absorbed that they forget some of the most important things that must be done to be healthy and continue their job. Some don’t get enough sleep while others sleep like there’s no tomorrow. Be careful for you might be increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.

In a study conducted by the doctors of West Virginia University School of Medicine, they found out that seven hours of sleep is the optimal amount for heart health.

More than 30,000 participated in the 2005 National Health Interview Survey. The researchers found that those who only slept for five hours are very much vulnerable to angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke twice more than those who slept a total of seven hours each day. Those who slept nine hours or more each day were one and a half times more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases. An elevated but less risk of cardiovascular disease for those who slept six or eight hours each day was also found. The most at-risk group is the 60 year olds.

They pointed out that sleep duration can affect the endocrine and metabolic functions of our body. If we are deprived of sleep we might suffer from hardened arteries due to impaired glucose tolerance, reduced insulin sensitivity and high blood pressure.

So people should always remember that sleep is very important for us to gain strength. We need the energy to carry on with our day to day activities. So make sure that you get the right amount of sleep.