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By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

There is nothing like getting a good, restful night’s sleep. It helps you to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start the next day. But on the same note, there is nothing worse than having insomnia, where getting a good night’s sleep is much harder, if not impossible to do, leaving you feeling less than perky the next day. If not feeling rested wasn’t enough, a recent study shows that those who have insomnia are also much more likely to have heart attacks.

A study published in the journal Clinical Cardiology evaluated individuals who had insomnia, and individuals who didn’t have insomnia and tracked those who suffered heart attacks and those who didn’t.  They found that those who had insomnia were 69% more likely to have a heart attack than those who didn’t, with women having a slightly larger risk. Interestingly, those with diabetes were two times more likely to experience a heart attack as well.

Researchers noted that sleep times also played a role in the likelihood of having a heart attack. Those who slept less than 5 hours each night had a higher risk than those who slept 6 to 8 hours each night. They also said that those who slept 9 hours, or more were just as likely to experience a heart condition as those who slept less than 5 hours each night. According to one of the study’s authors, Yomna E. Dean, the suggested amount of sleep that we should be aiming for each night is between 7 and 8 hours. It is also advised that you avoid eating right before bedtime, as well as making sure that you’re getting enough physical activity throughout the day. Also, it is best to sleep in a dark room that is quiet and slightly cool.

Did you know that there are also certain foods that you can eat to promote a better night’s sleep? Check out an article that we’ve written about it right here on Fill Your Plate!