![Sleep Added to Essential List for a Healthy Heart](http://townsquare.media/site/68/files/2022/01/attachment-RS22802_GettyImages-935229610-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Sleep Added to Essential List for a Healthy Heart
UNDATED -- The American Heart Association has added sleep to its list of heart health essentials.
Since 2020, they have said there are seven components to having a healthy heart - maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, being physically active, eating a healthy diet, and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar - all keys to ideal cardiovascular health. Those components have been dubbed Life's Simple 7.
Now, in a publication released Wednesday, the AHA says sleep duration joins those seven original metrics in a revised scoring tool now called Life's Essential 8.
![AM 1240 WJON logo](https://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/11/attachment-wjonam-alexacard-big.jpg?w=100)
They say adults should average seven to nine hours of sleep a night. The advisory notes that both too much and too little sleep are associated with heart disease and that poor sleep health is linked to poor psychological health, an important driver of heart disease.
St. Stephen, Minnnesota in Pictures
More From AM 1240 WJON
![St. Cloud Man Sentenced for 2022 Murder](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/03/attachment-Paul-Coleman.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![I-94 Project Between Monticello and Albertville Starts Soon](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2018/04/Road-Construction.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Buckvold Looking to Lead St. Cloud As Next Mayor](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/04/attachment-thumbnail_20240206-AnneBuckvold-LakeGeorgeStCloud-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Man’s Body Found After Jumping From Veterans Bridge](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/04/70240401_954648994892156_1160412640535642112_n-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Little Falls Man Hurt After Motorcycle Crash Friday](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/05/Mayo-Ambulance-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![See What Happens When The Sun Goes Down At Sleepover Safari](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-tiger.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Two Hurt in Stearns County Crash Near St. Rosa](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-Crash-with-Injuries.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![St. Ben’s, St. John’s Official Higher Ed Partners with MN United](http://townsquare.media/site/70/files/2019/11/soccer_ball_getty_Michael-Regan_Getty24.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![New Detour In Effect on Highway 23 Between Milaca and Bock](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/04/attachment-Hwy-23-Milaca-to-Ogilvie.jpg?w=980&q=75)