Want to do something GOOD and EASY that is sure to help you have a healthier heart? EASY!!!

[A] research team discovered that women who snooze less than six hours each night increase their risk for developing high blood pressure by 70%, compared with those who get seven to eight hours.

Need more? Here are other good things about sleep:

• when you sleep, your heart rate slows and blood pressure dips by an average of 10-20% (so when you don’t sleep – your heart works harder for longer during the day – causing blood pressure to rise)
• after just one night of four hours’ sleep, the level of blood proteins increase; blood proteins are directly linked to a greater risk of stroke and heart attack
• less sleep also causes your immune system to go into overdrive – flooding the body with infection-fighting white blood cells that can actually damage healthy tissue

So if you needed another reason to get a full nights sleep – you have got it! Sleep well tonight!

Source: Shape Magazine, March 2007, p101