Sleeping less than five hours night increases risk of many diseases

Sleeping less than five hours a night increases the risk of many diseases, including chronic diseases. The work of scientists from University College London is published in the journal PLOS: Medicine.

The study involved 8 thousand volunteers aged 50 to 70 years. Behind a state of health and habits of participants watched for 25 years.

The researchers found that people who slept less than 5 hours a day were 20% more likely to develop heart disease, cancer and diabetes compared to those who slept more than 7 hours a day. Volunteers over the age of 50 had a 30-40% increased risk of developing two or more chronic diseases at once, and the risk of death due to chronic diseases increased by 25%.

The researchers said their findings underscore the importance of adequate sleep for human health. They also called for sleep hygiene: not using gadgets several hours before bedtime, not eating heavy foods for dinner, and preparing a place to sleep.