Study Shows Too Much, Too Little Sleep Increases Stroke Risk

Boston (dbTechno) - According to a new study, sleeping too much, or even too little can increase your risk of stroke.

The study was done on more than 93,000 women and was led by Dr. Jiu-Chiuan Chen, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Carolina School of Public Health.

This study was related only to post-menopausal women, but according to researchers can apply to just about everyone.

What they found was that those who slept more than 9 hours a night regularly had a 60 to 70% increased risk of stroke compared to women who slept just 7 hours regularly.

Women who hslept six hours of less each night faced a 14% increased risk of stroke, compared to women who slept 7 hours.

This builds on past studies which show that sleep deprivation can put quite a strain on the heart. This study showcases the other extreme, as sleeping too much is just as unhealthy.

They recommend trying to stress-relieving methods to help your body get used to sleeping for around 7 hours a night. If you sleep 9 or more a night regularly, you should consult your doctor.

The study has been published in the July 18 journal Stroke.