Another reason to try to get proper amounts of sleep

We all know that sleep is important for our health. Proper sleep helps weight loss, gives us energy and helps maintain our blood pressure.
Another study shows that coronary artery calcification is less likely in adults who sleep more.

Christopher King and colleagues at the University of Chicago used electron beam computed tomography scans to measure coronary artery calcification in 495 participants form the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study. The subjects were healthy men and women ages 35 to 47 years at baseline.

At five years, the odds of incident calcification were reduced by 33% for each additional hour of sleep, as measured by a wrist activity monitor during two three-night periods separated by a year. This reduction in calcification risk is similar to what would be seen with a 16.5 mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure, the researchers said.

The researchers pointed out there may be unknown common factors that predict both sleep duration and calcification. (For instance, lower blood pressure during sleep).

This study was published in JAMA Dec.24, 2008.

A lot of people could work on trying to improve duration of sleep. It may mean getting to bed earlier and not watching T.V, or spending less time on the computer. Spend some time working on ‘sleep hygiene.' (This just implies working on techniques to make the bedroom a place of rest; not a place to eat, watch T.V., work on computer, etc.)