Get a good night’s sleep. Your heart will be the better for it.

New research shows people with the healthiest sleep patterns had a substantially lower risk of heart failure compared with those who report more fitful sleep.

The findings were based on an analysis by researchers at Tulane University who reviewed medical data from more than 400,000 people in the United Kingdom over a 10-year period, ending in 2019. Scientists focused on the link between heart failure and sleep habits.

After adjusting for other risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure and medication use, the healthy sleepers were found to be 42% less likely overall to have heart failure than their unhealthy sleeping counterparts.

Specifically, the research found an 8% less risk of heart trouble for early risers, a 17% risk reduction among those without insomnia, and a 34% less risk for those who did not report daytime drowsiness.

Just what does healthy sleep look like? It means getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night, not snoring, being awake and alert during the day and not having insomnia. And no sleeping in; healthy sleep means being an early riser.

The path to healthier sleep might also involve some lifestyle changes. Optimize your body’s natural time-keeping clock, known as the circadian rhythm, by increasing daytime exposure to bright light and reducing nighttime exposure to so-called blue light emitted by cell phones and computer screens. And dial back the caffeine later in the day, cut back on afternoon naps and establish regular bedtimes.

You’ll sleep easier knowing that you’re helping your heart stay healthy.