Sleep your way to Health

A 10 year study at Vancouver General Hospital, Canada, showed that getting less than 5 hours of sleep a night will affect one’s heart on the long run. Fatigue iuncreases the level of fibrinogen, the blood clotting protein, which reduces the blood flow to the heart and brain. 8 hours of sleep is thought to be optimal.

Another study by Columbia University showed that lack of sleep will permanently increase your blood pressure. The study found that less than 5 hours of sleep per day increases the incidence of high blood pressure by 60%. Sleeping less raises your 24 hr blood pressure and heart rate, which, through increased strain, can set up the cardiovascular system to persistently operate at an elevated pressure.

Exercise in the evening will lower your core body temperature and help you fall asleep faster.