![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/exact-hours-of-sleep-needed-to-slash-the-risk-of-depression-by-a-fifth-revealed/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/0_man-asleep-in-bed.jpg&description=The University of Cambridge research highlights those who regularly get between seven and nine hours at night cut their chances of having depression considerably Getting a decent sleep can slash your risk of depression by a fifth, a study suggests. Between seven and nine hours of slumber a night cuts your chances of suffering it by 22 per cent. And those who maintained regular social connections by meeting friends had an 18 per cent lower risk of the condition. Author Prof Barbara Sahakian, of Cambridge University, said of the major study of almost 290,000 people: 'Although our DNA – the genetic hand we've been dealt – can increase our risk of suffering depression, we've shown that a healthy lifestyle is potentially more important.' Another study which focused on the sleeping patterns of 64,000 nurses in the US showed that being a 'night owl' increases the risk of diabetes by 19 per cent. Sleep experts recently shared some top tips to ensure you get a good night's kip. These include limiting caffeine and alcohol before bed as it can "increase anxiety and impede sleep" if consumed later in the day. One expert from SleepSeeker told Mirror: "Having alcoholic beverages close to bedtime can also increase your heart rate which will keep you up. It's best to drink plenty of water throughout the day and stay hydrated, however having too much water before bed could also mean increased toilet trips during the night which disturb your sleep too so it's important to get this balance right. "Controlling light, temperature, and sound could be key to keeping worries at bay and being able to sleep through the night. Usually, the darker, cooler, and quieter you keep your sleeping space, the better chance you will have of sleeping undisturbed, but everyone is different so work out what works best for you! Taking a relaxing bath or shower can also help lower your body temperature so try doing these just before bed and see if it helps." Get our daily health briefing with all the news y){kind=link}
The University of Cambridge research highlights those who regularly get between seven and nine hours at night cut their chances of having depression considerably
Getting a decent sleep can slash your risk of depression by a fifth, a study suggests.
Between seven and nine hours of slumber a night cuts your chances of suffering it by 22 per cent. And those who maintained regular social connections by meeting friends had an 18 per cent lower risk of the condition.
Author Prof Barbara Sahakian, of Cambridge University, said of the major study of almost 290,000 people: “Although our DNA â the genetic hand we’ve been dealt â can increase our risk of suffering depression, we’ve shown that a healthy lifestyle is potentially more important.”
Another study which focused on the sleeping patterns of 64,000 nurses in the US showed that being a “night owl” increases the risk of diabetes by 19 per cent.