A new study shows that 30-percent of working adults who regularly get less than six hours of sleep have a higher risk of having a stroke.
The National Sleep Foundation study is the first of its kind to research sleep deprivation in adults who are not overweight, have sleep apnea, or possess other stroke risks.
"The public is less aware of the impact of insufficient amounts of sleep. Sleep is important — the body is stressed when it doesn't get the right amount" said study researcher Megan Ruiter.
The results of this three-year study showed that the number of people who routinely get eight hours of sleep has dropped from 38% to 28% since 2001.
Expert recommended receiving seven to nine hours of sleep a night.
“Previous research has shown that sustained partial sleep deprivation leads to modestly increased risk for cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks,” said Reena Pande, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Common factors leading to stroke are obesity, smoking, and lack of exercise. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.
