Do Long Sleepers Have Increased Stroke Risk?

A new study declares that there is a strong correlation between excessive amounts of sleep and stroke risk, resulting in a 46-percent increase in chances of stroke in individuals sleeping more than eight hours a night. A researcher from the University of Cambridge recently published this study in the journal Neurology. Beginning with a study sample of 9,692 individuals with an average age of 62, sleep habits were surveyed, and the participants were studied for an average of 9.5 years. Of the 986 participants who reported more than eight hours of sleep, 52 had a stroke — a heavily increased percentage compared to the 211 stroke victims in the larger group of 6,684 who reported normal sleep habits. “We don’t know yet whether long sleep is a cause, consequence or early marker of ill health,” said the study author. “More research is needed to understand the relationship between long sleep and stroke.” These findings were confirmed after removing variations in health and physical features, drawing into question the origin of this strong correlation. To learn more about this study, click here.