A good night’s sleep of seven to eight hours is healthier than expected: men live about five years longer and women about 2.4 years.
This is what was shown by an American study conducted on more than 172,000 people. “People who follow an ideal sleep pattern are more likely to live longer,” concludes Harvard researcher Frank Kean.
The talented professor at the University of Groningen, Marek Lancel, was not even surprised, She tells RTL Nieuws. “I find that 2.4 years for women is less than I would have expected.”
Lancel explains that sleep is very important to the immune system, among other things. “In your deep sleep, the body cleanses the brain, and waste is eliminated. Those who sleep poorly have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. You are also more susceptible to infectious diseases.”
According to American scientists, people who sleep well are 21 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, 19 percent less likely to die from cancer and 40 percent less likely to die from other causes, compared to those who suffer from poor sleep.
It is not yet clear why women and men are so different. This may be because women are less likely to develop sleep apnea because their symptoms present themselves differently.
sources): RTL News
