(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Sleeping more or less than the recommended seven or eight hours a night can put you at risk for metabolic syndrome -- a group of conditions like high cholesterol and high blood pressure that are closely linked to heart disease.
In a new study of about 1,200 people between the ages of 30 and 54, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh found those who slept less than six hours a night or more than eight hours a night were about 45 percent more likely to have the condition.
Short sleepers, however, were much more prevalent among the group, accounting for about 20 percent of the total. Long sleepers were less common, making up just eight percent of the group.
The link between metabolic syndrome and sleep duration was strongest in the short sleepers. Overall, they were nearly twice as likely as normal sleepers to be diagnosed with the condition.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises people who suspect they may have a sleep problem to consult their doctor.
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SOURCE:
SLEEP, published online May 1, 2008
