How many hours of sleep per night helps prevent high blood pressure?

To further clarify the relationship between sleep and high blood pressure, researchers from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Iran) synthesized data from 16 studies conducted between January 2000 and May 2023, including 1,044,035 people from 6 countries, to assess the rate of development of hypertension in people with no history of high blood pressure.

Participants ranged in age from over 35 to over 60, and were followed for an average of 5 years.

The results found that people who slept 7-8 hours a night had a 7% lower risk of high blood pressure than those who slept less than 6 hours, and up to 11% lower risk than those who slept less than 5 hours a night.

Study leader Dr. Kaveh Hosseini, Associate Professor of Cardiology at the University of Tehran Cardiology Center (Iran), said: Based on the latest data, 7-8 hours of sleep is best for your heart. The less sleep you get, the greater your risk of developing high blood pressure in the future, according to Healthline.

Poor sleep can increase your risk of high blood pressure, which is a known precursor to heart disease and stroke, says Dr. Hosseini.

Additionally, Dr. Hosseini advises people with sleep disruptions due to sleep apnea to talk to their doctor, as the condition can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, and coronary artery disease.