The study found that the mortality is lower in people who follow a fourth positive lifestyle recommendations, namely exercise, eating a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol consumption, and not smoking.
In addition, the research team also found that all four of the behaviors associated with a 57% lower risk for heart disease and a 67% lower risk of dying from a stroke or heart disease.
But, when adequate sleep (seven hours or more) was added to the four lifestyle, beneficial effects were amplified and result in a 65% lower risk of heart disease and a 83% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease (heart).
The researchers say that indeed other studies have shown a link between lack of sleep and cardiovascular disease, but this study is the first to look at whether sleep (added to the four other healthy lifestyle recommendations) can reduce the risk further.
"If all the participants of the research carried out all five healthy lifestyle factors, 36% of the composite of cardiovascular disease [heart disease or stroke] and 57% of fatal cardiovascular disease can be prevented or delayed," said the researchers, from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, and Wageningen University.
"The public health effect on sleep duration sufficient, in addition to factors other healthy lifestyle, can be enormous." In theory, many deaths from heart disease and stroke can be prevented or delayed.
Commenting on the study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, Prof. Grethe S of the University of Bergen, Norway, said that the benefits of sleep should be considered by public health experts as well as the parents.
"The main message from this study is that we need to consider sleep as an important factor for health," he added.
"From a public health perspective, we need to encourage people to get enough sleep and like all the other healthy lifestyle, it needs to be taught at home."