Thursday, September 6, 2007

Early Birds Show Heart Risks

Early to Bed, Early to rise makes a man healthy and wise is a well known limerick from that fun rogue of elders, Ben Franklin. Japanese scientists are showing that early rising could have risks for heart health. Somehow, a rash of seniors as the newest slackers is just not going to be sweeping the planet. Culturally, it seems more tenured earthlings tell their children and grandchildren to get out of bed. Who knew sleepyheads actually might have it right. (The cool picture is from AFP at a sleep study group)

The study, covering 3,017 healthy adults aged between 23 through 90, found that early risers had a greater risk of heart conditions including hypertension and of having strokes.

However, the study also noted that early risers were usually older.

The study is being presented this week at the World Congress of the World Federation of Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine Societies.
Rising before 5 am shows higher risks for high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. That ought to keep people tethered to their beds and pitching the alarm clocks. The logical scientists are upending conventional wisdom and seeking answers as to whether exercise in the morning provides an offset or true benefits. The sleep study had a range of participants from 23 to 90 years old.


The title alone will put you to a sleep, but the excellent info contained inside is a treasure from one of America's foremost experts on sleep. The sleepy good book is The Harvard Medical School Guide to A Good Night's Sleep a paperback from Harvard Medical School Guides by Lawrence Epstein and Steve Mardon.

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