Recent Blog Articles

Adult female acne: Why it happens and the emotional toll

Talking to your doctor about your LGBTQ+ sex life

Untangling grief: Living beyond a great loss

Thunderstorm asthma: Bad weather, allergies, and asthma attacks

Heart problems and the heat: What to know and do

I’m too young to have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, right?

Period equity: What it is and why it matters

Back pain: Will treatment for the mind, body—or both—help?

Colon cancer screening decisions: What’s the best option and when?

Cognitive effects in midlife of long-term cannabis use
Heart Health
Too much or too little sleep linked to stiffer arteries
Image: Thinkstock
Research we're watching
People who sleep too much or too little may be more likely to have early signs of heart disease, according to a study of more than 47,000 apparently healthy young and middle-aged adults.
The study volunteers filled out sleep questionnaires and underwent tests to assess the arteries in their hearts and legs. Researchers found that people who slept for nine or more hours per night had more calcium buildup in their heart artery walls and stiffer leg arteries than those who slept seven hours per night. These early signs of heart disease were also more prevalent in people who logged five or fewer hours of sleep per night and in people who reported poor sleep quality.
The authors, whose study was published online September 10 by Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, note that many studies have linked insufficient sleep to high blood pressure and other factors that boost heart disease risk. It's less clear how excess sleep might contribute to early heart disease. One possibility is that people who sleep longer than normal might have fragmented, poor-quality sleep, which may boost levels of inflammation, a known risk factor for heart disease.
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Free Healthbeat Signup
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!