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Everyone knows they feel amazingly good and refreshed (使精神振奋) after a good night’s sleep but now scientists have discovered it can help you to live longer too. According to a study in the US, healthy sleeping habits mean men can live almost five years longer, and women for two years. It also found that sleep is good for our health and reduces the risk of heart disease.

However, the study by the American College of Cardiology shows it’s not just about how long you sleep and the quality of your sleep is important too. Dr Frank Qian, who led the study, said sleep must be restful. The researchers said that sleep of high quality for adults was decided by five important factors: getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night; having trouble falling asleep no more than twice a week; having trouble staying asleep no more than twice a week; not using medicine to get to sleep; and waking up feeling rested at least five days a week.

Each factor was given one point, with a maximum (最大值) of five points for the highest quality of sleep. The researchers looked at the results of a survey of 172,321 people in the US that measured their health habits, including sleep, over five years. They found that people who had all five points were likely to live longer and lead healthier lives than those who had sleep difficulties.

According to the Sleep Charity, a good night’s sleep can improve people’s memory and immune (免疫的) system. Dr Qian admits that no one’s sleep is perfect—everyone has a late or restless night sometimes. However, he said, “Even from a young age, if people can develop these good habits of getting enough sleep, making sure they are sleeping without too many difficulties, which stem from daily troubles or noisy surroundings. And gradually it can greatly benefit their long-term health.”

The study was based only on people reporting their own sleep habits rather than recording them scientifically, so this may have affected the results and various study ways are needed.