...5 Bad - 6 Good - 7 Good - 8 Good - 9 Bad.....

[Canary42]

Those "Health Experts" are at it again.

Not satisfied with telling us not enough sleep is harmful, they've now put a cap on it too.

6-8 hours is OK, but less or more will lead to heart problems.

All based on statistics, not hard and fast medical reasons.

"Dream on" is all I can say ;-)

https://uk.yahoo.com/style/study-reveals-many-hours-sleep-120637498.html

[jim360]

Indeed, as the study admits there's no understanding on why this might be true -- but statistical analysis, if performed properly, is not to be sneered at. Moreover, maybe having found the evidence that there *is* an effect, it will motivate the necessary further study.

Apparently the increased risk of heart problems is greater if sleeping longer than it is shorter, which is surprising.

[woofgang]

could these statistics be being read backwards? ie not that sleeping less or more give you heart problems but that sleeping less or more could be indicative of an undiagnosed heart problem?

[Canary42]

Yes woof, that's a major problem with health stats. A case of "all cats have 4 legs, that's got 4 legs it must be a cat".

[woofgang]

a Bocardo!

[jim360]

Well, it's not impossible of course, but I think most people were already aware that too little sleep was a bad thing.

[Old_Geezer]

What they aren't aware of is how to stop preachy articles telling them they must sleep more as if they're at fault when nothing tried stops them waking up earlier, like it or not.

[Grandpappy]

Well I get about 4 or 5 on a good night.I'm out in the garden at sun-up after my porridge and have 3 glasses of wine on Fri/Sat/Sun. I'm 77 in 3weeks time and 13stone. I laugh at everything(including myself)and love to learn about everything? ( which I forget almost immediately ) I read the same page over & over before it 'sinks' in and I'm happy. So, stick that in yer pipe & smoke it!

[Buenchico]

There's nothing new in the report.

From 2015:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31928434

[Sqad]

Jim at 1503 yesterday summed the situation up very well in that it is just a statistical observation.
What does it mean? I have no idea. What practical value ? not a lot if any.
If I sleep 5.5 hours a night, is that bad or good for my heart?
If i sleep 8.5 hours a night, is that good or bad for my heart?

It is of little practical value to clinical medicine other than a topic for conversation.