To avoid stroke risk, sleep like Goldilocks?

Wait around long enough, and you'll find research supporting almost anything you want. Maybe.

Almost a year ago, a study found lack of sleep raises stroke risk. As someone who enjoys sleep, I thought this was great news.

Now, another study finds that sleeping too much may increase stroke risk:

And those who transitioned from averaging less than 6 hours of nightly shut-eye to more than 8 hours had the highest risk, with close to a fourfold increase in stroke risk compared with people who consistently averaged 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

"We don't know yet whether long sleep is a cause, consequence, or early marker of ill health. More research is needed to understand the relationship between long sleep and stroke," said PhD candidate Yue Leng, of the University of Cambridge in England, in a written statement.

The study adds to the growing body of evidence on the ties between sleep and stroke risk.

A widely reported 2012 study found that less than 6 hours a night of sleep was associated with a more than fourfold increase in stroke risk. An earlier meta-analysis of sleep and stroke studies suggested a U-shaped relationship, with both short and long sleep associated with an increased risk for stroke. A more recent analysis of data from a large health study in China came to the same conclusion.

So, like Goldilocks, you need to find that sweet spot - not too little sleep, not too much sleep, but just right.

Or it seems. Personally, I think if you try to take care of your body, it will tell you when you need sleep.