Less than six hours sleep per night may increase heart disease risk, study says

People who sleep less than six hours a night might have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who sleep seven to eight hours.

The study focused on 4,000 people with no known history of heart disease. Their average age was 46, and two-thirds of participants were men.

Participants had their hearts monitored for seven days. They also underwent ultrasound and cardiac scans.

Results showed people who slept fewer than six hours a night were 27 per cent more likely to develop a buildup of plaque in the body's arteries – compared to those who got between seven and eight hours of sleep.