The report said that people who had trouble falling asleep and remaining asleep each night were three times more likely to develop heart failure than those who reported no trouble sleeping. Those who experienced substandard sleep that failed to leave them fully refreshed were also at risk.
The researchers say it is unclear exactly why poor sleep and heart failure are associated in this way. It's well known that getting enough sleep is vital for your mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.
At this stage, the tests don't prove that poor sleepers will develop the condition. The good thing is it is a potentially treatable condition. The British Heart Foundation recommends that if lack of sleep is becoming a problem and affecting your daily life, you should have a chat with your GP.
And that's what my husband will do today when he visits his doctor. I'd rather have him alive and hitting (out at night[—removed for the sake of the cliché link]) than lose him to heart malfunction.
Italian proverb: Count your nights by stars, not shadows; count your life with smiles, not tears.