Getting enough sleep every night might be more important for a long life than many people think.
New research from Oregon Health & Science University has found that regularly getting less than seven hours of sleep is strongly linked to a shorter lifespan. This means that sleep may play a bigger role in how long we live than even diet or exercise.
The study was published in the journal SLEEP Advances and included a large national analysis of sleep habits and life expectancy across the United States.
Researchers looked at data from a survey run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 2019 and 2025. They compared this sleep data with life expectancy rates from counties across the country.
What they found was surprising. Among all the lifestyle factors they studied, sleep had one of the strongest links to how long people lived. It had a greater effect than physical activity, diet, or even social connections. Only smoking showed a stronger connection to shorter lifespan.
Dr. Andrew McHill, one of the study’s lead authors and a professor at OHSU, said he didn’t expect sleep to be such a powerful factor. “We’ve always known that sleep is important, but this research shows just how deeply it can affect our health and longevity,” he explained.
Most of the work was done by graduate students in the university’s Sleep, Chronobiology and Health Laboratory.
Even though scientists already knew sleep was important, they were surprised by how clearly sleep tracked with lifespan across different regions and years. McHill said, “I’ve studied sleep for years, and even I was amazed by the strength of the link.”
This is the first study to show trends between sleep and life expectancy on a state-by-state, year-by-year basis. The researchers used the CDC’s definition of good sleep, which is getting at least seven hours a night. This is also what the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend.
Across nearly every state and every year studied, the same pattern appeared: people who got enough sleep lived longer. This held true even when other factors were considered.
The study did not look at exactly why sleep has this effect, but past research gives some clues. Sleep helps the heart, supports the immune system, and keeps the brain working well. If someone regularly misses sleep, these systems may not work properly, which could lead to serious health problems over time.
Dr. McHill said this research is a reminder that sleep should be treated as a top health priority, just like eating healthy food or staying active. He pointed out that people often think they can “catch up” on sleep over the weekend, but the damage from regular sleep loss may already be done.
In short, if you want to feel better during the day and possibly live longer, getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night should be a priority. It’s one of the easiest and most powerful things you can do for your health.
If you care about sleep health, please read studies about foods that help people sleep better, and Keto diet could improve cognitive function in people with sleep loss.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the natural supplements for sound sleep, and how your diet can improve sleep quality.
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