Going to bed early and getting enough sleep can lead to heart-healthy habits.

So says a new study by led by University of Delaware researchers. They linked tobacco use, lower activity levels and poor diet with short nights and late bedtimes. The research involved data from nearly 440,000 British adults between the ages of 40 and 69. The findings were published recently in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

Specifically, the researchers found that “short sleepers” — those who get less than six hours of nightly shut-eye — are more likely to smoke than those who get adequate sleep, about seven to eight hours a night. The same holds true for people with later bedtimes, and those who sleep nine hours or more a night — they were also less likely to exercise regularly or eat healthy foods.

Study participants reported whether they considered themselves a morning person, an evening person or somewhat in between. They were also asked about four daily habits — exercise, the amount of time spent in front of a television or computer, fruit and vegetable consumption and the number of cigarettes they smoked.

The researchers noted that people who are active usually sleep better — and those who don’t get enough sleep aren’t active enough. The pressing question, they said, is how health providers can leverage one activity to improve the other.

The researchers said they hope that modifying sleep patterns can reduce behaviors — such as smoking — that can lead to heart and vascular disease. They said that further study is needed to determine exactly how much an early bedtime and adequate sleep improves heart health.

Turning in early and getting enough rest does more than refresh the body and mind. It’s also part of a heart-healthy lifestyle.