Timing your sleep: Study reveals best hours for men and women

There are many publications about how we should sleep to get the best rest: which position to choose, whether to ventilate the room, what to eat before sleep, and even what colour the bedding should be. Scientists have finally explained when it is best to go to sleep. And it's not just about getting enough rest but also about our health.

Obesity, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle significantly increase the risk of high blood pressure. However, the time we go to bed is also important. For men, the healthiest time appears to be 11:00 PM. It is important to remember that high blood pressure is the main cause of heart attacks and strokes.

Scientists studied over 14,000 women and men and concluded that starting sleep at 11:00 PM reduces the risk of health issues related to heart function. Research conducted by experts from the University of South China showed that men who went to bed at 11:00 PM were 32% less likely to suffer from high blood pressure than those who went to bed earlier or later.

Scientists also added that starting sleep at other times simply "distorts" our internal clock, which causes an increase in blood pressure. Interestingly, this also raises the level of psychological stress in the body, which increases the risk of heart disease.

We already know what time is best to go to bed, but the length of nighttime rest is just as important. Going to bed late and waking up later results in much lower-quality sleep and can lead to time orientation disorders.

The older we get, the less sleep we need. Newborns and infants need the most sleep, but getting less than 6 hours is not advisable for adults. This increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's and dementia, and our body's resistance decreases. The optimal length of sleep is between 7 and 9 hours.