# Deep sleep is key to women living longer

- Author: Joichi Ito
- Date: 2002-07-17T06:43:50Z


From the Guardian



by Tim Radford, science editor



Women live six or seven years longer than men because they sleep more deeply, according to US scientists. Men who stay up late, and who toss, turn, count sheep, or who suffer from sleep apnoea - a respiratory condition - are at greater risk from diabetes, heart disease and other conditions probably because they sleep less well, said Alexandros Vgontzas of Pennsylvania State University.



He told the journal Chemistry and Industry that women's mastery of the mattress was probably an evolutionary adaptation to the needs of child rearing. In effect, waking up for the 2am feed was compensated for by a better kind of oblivion.



Hmmm... This doesn't sound very fair. (Mizuka is still fast asleep. I'm awake 3 hours before I have to be, still tired after only 5 hours of sleep... I wonder if it's this silly blog drawing me out of my deep sleep...)





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#### Categories

Health and Medicine