Scientists find the connection between sleep deprivation and stroke; Here are the conclusions that got us scared.

Sleep deprivation or sleep too much is linked to a high risk of stroke. When is sleep insufficient? Too much?

Japanese scientists were the first to try to answer that question. They observed about 100,000 men and women of middle age for fourteen years. Compared to people sleeping on average seven hours a night, people who slept four or fewer hours, or ten or more hours, had 50 percent more likely to die from stroke.

A recent study of some 150,000 Americans further analyzed the matter. The higher rates of strokes occurred in people who slept less than six hours and those who slept for more than nine hours. The lowest danger was among those who slept about seven or eight hours of sleep per night. Greater studies in Europe, China or elsewhere confirm that sleeping seven or eight hours at night is linked to low risk of stroke. We're not sure if this relationship is cause-after, but until we find out more, why not aim for so many hours of sleep at night? Sleep well.