Golden hour to fall asleep for a healthy heart

An adequate amount of sleep is essential for long and healthy life. At least 06-09 hours of sleep is a must to stay energized and active throughout the day. A recent study talks about the magical hour of falling asleep that could help you to live longer and keep your heart healthy.

A report published in USA today mentions that there is a golden hour for everyone to fall asleep. In a new study, researchers discovered that the best time to go to bed and fall asleep 10 pm to 11 pm. In the European Heart Journal, a study with the tile ‘Accelerometer-derived sleep onset timing and cardiovascular disease incidence: a UK Biobank cohort study’ was published.

The study analyzed the sleep and heart pattern of about 88,000 adults for six years. The data revealed that the risk of cardiovascular diseases was lowest among those who went to sleep between 10 pm to 11 pm. People who fall asleep between 11 to 12 pm are at a 12 per cent higher risk, whereas those falling asleep after midnight are at 25 per higher risk.

Adults falling asleep before 10 pm have a 24 per cent more risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Researchers found that the participants who slept at midnight or after midnight had an increased risk of heart diseases. The participants wore accelerometers, device recording their movements, for seven days. The study was based on the data collected about their sleep, walk, demographics, lifestyles, physical health, socioeconomic status and more.

David Plans, a neuroscientist and experimental psychologist and co-author of the study, stated, “The body has a 24-hour internal clock, called circadian rhythm, that helps regulate physical and mental functioning.” “While we cannot conclude causation from our study, the results suggest that early or late bedtimes may be more likely to disrupt the body clock, with adverse consequences for cardiovascular health,” he stated in his statement to NBC News. A good night sleep and going to bed at the same time every day could do wonders. Experts suggest sticking to a sleep schedule, managing stress and regular physical activity and a healthy diet to sleep better.