New DelhiAccording to a recent study published in SLEEP Advances, a peer-reviewed scientific journal that covers sleep, sleep disorders, and the science of sleep health, Americans who regularly get less than seven hours of sleep at night may be living shorter lives.
The study, which was carried out between 2019 and 2025, compared reported sleep duration with average lifespan using data from over 3,000 US counties. It was discovered that people lived shorter lives in areas where they slept less.
Lack of sleep is associated with a lower life expectancy
Sleeping less than seven hours a night has been linked to a lower life expectancy in both wealthy and low-income communities, as well as in both urban and rural areas. However, the difference is noticeable even within states. For instance, compared to nearby counties where more people sleep longer, counties in Oregon with a higher percentage of sleep-deprived residents consistently have lower life expectancies.
Why getting seven to nine hours of sleep is important
Millions of Americans sleep for fewer than seven hours a day, according to the National Sleep Foundation. According to senior author Andrew McHill, PhD, a sleep researcher and associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University, "I was surprised to see such a robust association between sleep habits and alcohol consumption."
He remarked, "I did not anticipate it to be so strongly correlated with life expectancy." Although we have always believed that sleep is crucial, this study makes it even more clear. If at all possible, people should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep.
The findings highlight the importance of getting enough sleep for long-term health, not just for daytime rest.
Lack of sleep is more detrimental to longevity than diabetes and obesity.
The findings were startling when researchers contrasted sleep deprivation with other well-known mortality risks. Major predictors of early death, such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, unemployment, and lack of health insurance, were found to be closely correlated with sleep insufficiency. Smoking turned out to be the most important factor, but sleep deprivation came in second, ahead of obesity, diabetes, and inactivity.
The message is as straightforward as it gets: getting seven to nine hours of good sleep is necessary for your body to function properly and for you to live a longer life.