We all know that there is no fun in being exhausted. It is pretty clear that we are not at our very best if we are tired. It doesn’t take rocket scientist to figure out that living an exhausted life is not exactly a healthy way to live because rest is vital for our bodies. Medical professionals tell us that our cardiovascular systems especially depend on proper rest, as both heart problems and a greater number of strokes have been linked with not getting a proper amount of sleep.
But the question is exactly how much sleep is needed for us maintain good health? Actually, it depends on the manner in which we are getting it. For some people, it is only a matter of adjusting their bedtime routine and sticking to their schedule in order to get the proper rest. For other people, such as those who have extremely long commutes or those who have very difficult schedules or a disposition that prevents them from having any extended time for sleep, it is all about learning how to nap effectively. But there is always a right way and a wrong way for us to recharge ourselves.
Best Way to Sleeping at the End of the Day
During a European Society of Cardiology conference, scientists from the infamous Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre, located in Athens, Greece discovered the best time for sleep at the end of the day. It is between 6 – 8 hours each night.
To reach this conclusion, these researchers conducted an analysis of eleven prior sleep studies that have been published over the last 5 years, evaluating data gathered from 1,000,541 people. These people were arranged into 3 groups. The reference group was the one who slept 6 – 8 hours each night. The second group slept less than 6 hours, and the third group slept more than 8 hours.
As it turns out, the groups that got either fewer than 6 hours sleep or greater than 8 hours sleep were at the highest risk of dying from either coronary artery disease or from a stroke over the next 10 years.
What is interesting about the conclusion is that those who slept less than 6 hours had an 11% more likelihood to have cardiovascular problems. But those who slept more than 8 hours had a 33% more likelihood to have such problems. In other words, those who slept too much were three times as likely to have cardiovascular issues as those who didn’t sleep enough.
It is quite amazing to discover that too much sleep is actually more danger than those who do not get enough sleep. The study’s lead author named Epameinondas Fountas summarized these findings: “Our findings suggest that too much or too little sleep may be bad for the heart. More research is needed to clarify exactly why, but we do know that sleep influences biological processes like glucose metabolism, blood pressure, and inflammation—all of which have an impact on cardiovascular disease.”
Nap pods
For people who do not have the option of enjoying a full night’s sleep, or who have to be at their very best from the start to finish of their long days, naps are probably the best option. There is actually a brand new industry that is popping up in cities throughout the world to furnish busy people with a cozy place to catch a few winks during the day.
