For many years, the health debate has focused on lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and smoking.
Sleep is often mentioned but rarely treated as a central health issue, even though it can have serious consequences.
Sleep as a health factor
According to a study from Oregon Health & Science University, sleep is closely linked to a range of bodily functions, including the heart, the immune system, and the brain.
Even so, sleep occupies less space in preventive health advice than other habits.
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The study examines how sleep is related to life expectancy and is published in the scientific journal SLEEP Advances.
The researchers point out that sleep is often seen as something that can be postponed.
This applies both to working life and private life, where many people sleep less than recommended.
What the data show
The analysis published in SLEEP Advances and reported by Science Daily is based on U.S. health data from 2019 to 2025.
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The researchers compared information on life expectancy in different counties with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the researchers, this provides a broad picture of population health over time.
When sleep is compared with diet, physical activity, and social isolation, the results show that insufficient sleep has a stronger association with a shorter lifespan than most other factors.
Only smoking has a greater impact, according to the analysis.
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The major importance of sleep
Senior researcher and study author Andrew McHill states in connection with the study that he did not expect sleep to have such a significant impact.
The study uses the CDC’s definition of sufficient sleep as at least seven hours per night. Therefore, a minimum of seven hours is required to protect one’s health.
Sleep is thus not merely a matter of well-being but a central factor in how long people live.
Sources: Science Daily, and SLEEP Advances.
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