A new research by an Indian origin scientist has claimed that sleeping for six to eight hours a night could help cut the risk of heart problems and stroke.
Author Dr Saurabh Aggarwal, of Chicago Medical School has found that people who sleep less than six hours a night were twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke, compared to those who sleep between six and eight hours, News.com.au reported.
People who take less sleep also had a two-thirds higher risk of congestive heart failure.
However, the research found that sleeping for more than eight hours doubles the risk of angina and increases likelihood of coronary artery disease by 19 percent.
Aggarwal said that six to eight hours was the "best period of sleep duration", and people whose sleep duration is at the extremes are at the highest risk of cardiovascular events.
