Every 45 seconds someone in the United States experiences a stroke, and people who have high blood pressure (hypertension) are four to six times more likely to have one. Now, a new study points to a simple way to cut those numbers: Don’t eat before going to bed and you’ll lower the chance of having a stroke by two-thirds.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Loannina Medical School in Greece, looked at the sleep patterns of patients including healthy people, as well as those who’d had a stroke, or suffered with acute coronary syndrome, a condition in which clogged arteries reduce blood flow to the heart. All the subjects completed a detailed questionnaire about when and what they ate, as well as their sleep habits.
The researchers discovered that compared with people who went to bed within an hour of dinner those who waited at least 60 to 70 minutes before tucking in were 66% less likely to have a stroke. Those who waited 70 minutes to two hours fared even better: they had a 76% lower likelihood of having a stroke. After two hours, the reduction in risk started to taper off.
One reason may the increased risk of reflux disease, which can also lead to sleep apnea, a known risk factor for stroke. Although the study is small, it looks like a prudent idea to wait at least an hour after eating before going to bed.
