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A full night’s sleep can help you stay healthy

Getting a good night’s sleep is important. It can sharpen your focus, give you more energy, and even help you ward off the common cold. But did you know that it can affect your long-term health, too?

A recent study in the European Heart Journal suggests that people who regularly get fewer than 6 hours of sleep a night are at an increased risk for cardiac problems, including heart attack and stroke. In fact, sleep-deprived study participants were 15 percent more likely to have a stroke. And more and more people are cutting back on their shut-eye in order to meet the daily challenges of life and work.

To help protect your health, try these tips and aim for 7 hours of sleep each night.

• Set a regular time each night for powering down your computer, putting away your smartphone, and turning off your TV.
• Before bed, make time for a quiet activity, such as writing in a journal, reading, meditation, or taking a bath.
• Create a healthy sleep environment.
• Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning — even on weekends.

Still having trouble falling and staying asleep? Talk to your doctor, or get personalized online coaching in the HealthMedia^® Overcoming ^TM Insomnia program.

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