People who get less sleep consistently are more likely to die earlier

Question

Sleep is extremely important for the human body. Studies have found that those who get less than six hours of sleep consistently are more likely to die earlier than those who get more sleep.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/may/05/sleep-study-premature-death

Answer 1

According to the American College of Cardiology, sleep is a big contributor to heart health and overall heath. In an article from the ACC, Nicole Napoli states, "The study found that young people who have more beneficial sleep habits are incrementally less likely to die early. Moreover, the data suggest that about 8% of deaths from any cause could be attributed to poor sleep patterns." This shows that good sleep is essential for optimal health and high quality of life. The article also states, "Among men and women who reported having all five quality sleep measures (a score of five), life expectancy was 4.7 years greater for men and 2.4 years greater for women compared with those who had none or only one of the five favorable elements of low-risk sleep."

Source:

Getting Good Sleep Could Add Years to Your Life

Comments

I second this claim. It’s clear from the article that the evidence of longer life expectancy is directly connected to having more beneficial sleep patterns. However, I feel that it should be more clearly defined what “beneficial sleep habits” actually means

Answer 2

The article mentions a study published in Sleep that analyzed data from 16 studies involving over 1.3 million participants. This large sample size is significant, and the findings do suggest a correlation between sleeping less than six hours and an increased risk of early death, as well as potential risks associated with oversleeping. The claim that individuals who sleep less than six hours are 12% more likely to experience premature death compared to those who sleep six to eight hours is supported by various studies. A 2021 meta-analysis in Sleep Medicine Reviews confirmed that insufficient sleep is linked to increased mortality and health risks, including cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders. In summary, the article accurately reflects findings from the 2010 study while emphasizing key issues that remain relevant today.