Reliable study of more than 1,200 Japanese adults with high blood pressure found that people who slept for less than 7.5 hours each night were more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke or die of cardiac arrest over a 4-year period. Man women who slept less than 7.5 hours per night experienced a 68% higher risk of heart attacks, cardiac arrest or strokes.
“Short sleepers” — people who fail to have a blood-pressure dip that normally occurs overnight were at even higher risk.
Waiting for latest study to appear in PubMed.gov
Other studies …
Eguchi K, Ishikawa J, Hoshide S, Pickering TG, Schwartz JE, Shimada K, Kario K. Night Time Blood Pressure Variability Is a Strong Predictor for Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Am J Hypertens. 2008 Oct 2.