OREGON, USA: A new study has discovered that the lack of sleep not only turns out to be a cause of poor physical and mental health but can also considerably shorten one’s life.
The research, conducted by the Oregon Health and Science University, sleep through the night to live longer and was based on solid scientific reasoning. The authors of the study claimed that the risk of dying sooner is much higher for those who continuously sleep less.
The scientists took a large U.S. database and analysed it for factors that would have an impact on life expectancy. They then compared this data with a survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the years 2019 to 2025. One of the main findings of the study was that people’s sleep time is important in relation to other lifestyle factors like how good one’s diet is, how active one is, and how isolated one feels socially.
The research reveals that sleep turns out to be more important than proper diet and exercise as far as one’s life span is concerned. On the other hand, smoking has been proven to be more damaging than sleep deprivation.
One of the researchers commented, “The fact that lack of sleep is such a significant factor in determining how long you will live was a surprise to us. It has been a common notion that sleep is a health booster but this study indisputably tells a 7 to 9 hours sleep narrative for the entire population.”
Even though previous studies indicated an association of the lack of sleep with mortality, the present one is the first to draw an unequivocal connection between sleep and longevity.
As per the analysis, at least 7 hours of sleep is mandatory for every individual for being in line for a longer life.
The researchers pointed out that they have not investigated the biological connection that sleep still is a primary requirement for heart health, the immune system, and brain performance, but they conceded that sleep’s importance still cannot be underestimated. Further, they insisted that people should make sleep their priority just like exercising or eating healthily.
People usually neglect sleep, thinking that it can be “caught” on weekends, but this study advises that consistent, good-quality sleep every night is not only necessary for health but also for a longer life.
The results of this study were reported in the journal Sleep Advances.
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