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

Comments

The article you used seems very good and the study was really interesting however I believe it missed other potential factors that cause sleep loss and even contribute to a quicker death such as any illnesses or diseases, or stress throughout life. As well as how much it will affect your lifespan and if the difference is really such a problem that people will start sleeping more.

---

Great comment. I definitely agree. You use a well-trusted source and raise major health concerns like diabetes and the chance of stroke.

---

This is a great point. The article you used outlines why sleep is so essential for overall health. It especially goes into depth as to how getting enough sleep also improves good cognitive function, mood, and your physical health.

---

Aside from life span there are health concerns that may arise due to lack of sleep. Which may be the main factor on individuals with less sleep lifespan?
source: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/healthy-aging/how-quality-sleep-impacts-your-lifespan/

---

I agree with this claim that lack of sleep increases the risk of early death, the study referenced in The Guardian provides compelling evidence, which strengthens the validity of its findings. Chronic sleep deprivation is well-documented to negatively impact cardiovascular health, immune function, and metabolic regulation—all of which contribute to a shorter lifespan. However, while the correlation between inadequate sleep and premature death is strong, it is essential to consider other contributing lifestyle factors, such as diet, stress, and physical activity, which may also influence mortality rates. Additionally, individual variability in sleep needs should not be overlooked—some people may function well with slightly less sleep than others.

Answer 1

The Statement people who get less sleep consistently are more likely to die earlier is True.I followed the link to the study and the study said that “the study included more than 1.3 million participants, followed up for up to 25 years, with more than 100,000 deaths recorded. “   The research done at the University of Warwick in collaboration with the Federico II University Medical School in Naples.” The Research “found that people who sleep for less than six hours each night were 12% more likely to die prematurely than those who get the recommended 6-8 hours.”  I researched and Britannica stated that The Guardian is a reputable newspaper in the UK. https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/short_sleep_increases/  

Answer 2

According to Harvard Brain Science Initiative, extreme sleep deprivation can be life altering. Our bodies rely on our sleep cycles to restart and help organize things, so if we deprive ourselves of something our bodies rely on, there will be noticeable, detrimental effects on our health. This severe sleep deprivation could ultimately lead to premature death.

https://brain.harvard.edu/hbi_news/why-severe-sleep-deprivation-can-be-lethal/

Answer 3

This claim is true, people who get less sleep are more likely to die earlier. The study in the Guardian article found that consistently sleeping less than six hours a night increases the risk of premature death by 12% over 25 years compared to those who get six to eight hours of sleep. It also stated that having a lack of sleep has been linked to various health issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. To back up this article's claims, I looked at a study done by Harvard's Division of Sleep Medicine. They also found that insufficient sleep impacts overall health, which can shorten lifespans. According to Harvard's findings, the impact of insufficient sleep isn't immediately obvious but builds over time, which can contribute to long-term health issues. These issues can go unnoticed for some time, causing unnoticed problems until it's too late.  

 https://sleep.hms.harvard.edu/education-training/public-education/sleep-and-health-education-program/sleep-health-education-86 

 

Answer 4

I believe that this claim is completely true. The claim above states a source which uses a study to provide evidence. Another study by the National Library of Medicine further proves this point (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2864873/). In this study, it was found that a shorter duration of sleep was associated with a greater risk of death. Overall, good sleep is a very important part of our lives, as well as something we should take seriously.

Answer 5

Really good question to a problem that many people experience. From reading the article by The Guardian, the unequivocalness seems very eerie. Though that article shows the likeliness to be at a low 12%, I also found an article by The Sleep Foundation that helps explain the case. Premature death and lack of sleep is not directly related, but the side effects that comes from lack of sleep could lead to a higher chance of death.

Can You Die From Lack of Sleep? | Sleep Foundation

Answer 6

According to The Guardian, sleeping less than six hours every night is associated with a 12% increased risk of premature death. This finding comes from the systematic review and meta-analysis by University of Warwick researchers who analyzed data from 16 studies comprising over 1.3 million participants who were followed up for up to 25 years. This means that, although there was a strong relationship between inadequate sleep and early mortality, the study concluded that sleeping for more than nine hours a day can signal hidden health problems. The results are really well-supported with the size of the data set and the length of time over which it was observed, adding weight to the article's claims. More information about the study is available in the NIH article here: Sleep Duration and All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies.

The American College of Cardiology also reports that sleep is an essential factor in heart health and overall well-being. According to an article by Nicole Napoli, young people who sleep better are progressively less likely to die prematurely. These data indicate that poor sleep patterns may contribute to as many as 8% of deaths from any cause. Interestingly, those who reported all five quality sleep measures-a score of five-had a calculated life expectancy 4.7 years longer for men and 2.4 years longer for women compared with those reporting none or one favorable sleep element. This shows how good sleep is essential for health and quality of life. 

Link of sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2864873/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3947517/#:~:text=

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100504095109.htm#:~:text=New%20research%20has%20found%20that,than%20those%20who%20get%20the

Answer 7

The claim that getting less than 6 hours of sleep can shorten your life is backed by solid research. The article in the Guardian references a big 2010 study published in the journal Sleep that looked at over 1.3 million people. It found that those who slept less than 6 hours regularly had a 12% higher chance of dying earlier compared to people who got six to eight hours of sleep. Other sources like, Harvard Medical School, agree that not getting enough sleep can lead to serious health issues like heart disease, diabetes and a weakened immune system. This happens because lack of sleep puts stress on the body, messes with hormones, and increases inflammation. 

https://sleep.hms.harvard.edu/education-training/public-education/sleep-and-health-education-program/sleep-health-education-45

Answer 8

According to The Guardian, sleep is very important when it comes to a persons overall health. Too little sleep can be damaging to ones health as well as too much sleep. When a person consistantly doesn't sleep enough hours each night they are more likely to die prematurely than someone who gets enough sleep each night. The article states, "It found that those who generally slept for less than six hours a night were 12% more likely to experience a premature death over a period of 25 years than those who consistently got six to eight hours' sleep."

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

Answer 9

Sleep is a necessary factor for the health of the human body and mind. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "Pooled analyses indicate that short sleepers (commonly < 7 h per night, often < 5 h per night) have a 12% greater risk, and long sleepers (commonly > 8 or 9 h per night) a 30% greater risk of dying than those sleeping 7 to 8 h per night." It clearly states that sleep is very important and those who don't sleep enough are more likely of dying sooner. 

Answer 10

The claim that “sleeping consistently for less than six hours a night may cause an early death” is true. The study in the article was conducted by the University of Warwick and Federico II University which are both trusted research sources. The study found that people who sleep consistently for less than six hours per night have a 12% higher risk of dying prematurely over a 25-year period compared to those who sleep six to eight hours. A study done by Harvard University found the same outcome when individuals are sleep deprived. Both studies found that a lack of sleep can lead to health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure and even heart disease. It's important to remember the original claim that “sleeping consistently for less than six hours a night may cause an early death”, and focus that health risks are linked to consistent under sleeping and may lead to health problems, but it depends on the situation. https://brain.harvard.edu/hbi_news/why-severe-sleep-deprivation-can-be-lethal/ 

 

 

Comments

I think you did a very good job fact checking this claim as you provided a reliable source, Harvard, and found specific examples within the study to point out. You also provided a quote that specifically answers the claim which is important and makes what you say seem more reliable just from reading what you said even before looking into your source. Great job!