People with high blood pressure are at additional risk of heart disease and strokes if they sleep poorly. The study examined 1200 high blood pressure sufferers in Japan. Those who sleep less than 7.5 hours a night were more likely to die from heart attacks and stroke.

The reason may be that by sleeping only a short time you miss out on the natural dip in blood pressure that usually happens while sleeping. This time of lower blood pressure has a positive effect on the heart and helps it to recover strength.

Blood pressure usually shoots up in the morning when you become active after the low point of resting. This is why most fatal heart attacks occur shortly after getting up. You can help your heart cope better with this increase by sleeping longer.