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Sleeping less than seven hours a night is one of the main predictors of lower life expectancy in the United States, second only to smoking, according to a national study published in the journal SLEEP Advances.
The research, led by Andrew McHill, associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), analyzed data from all US states between 2019 and 2025 and found a consistent correlation between insufficient sleep duration and a shorter life, even when considering other risk factors such as diet, exercise and loneliness.
The magnitude of the association between insufficient sleep and the risk of premature death surprised the researchers themselves. “I didn’t expect it to be so strongly correlated with life expectancy,” McHill said.
The analysis, conducted primarily by graduate students in OHSU’s Sleep, Chronobiology and Health Laboratory, used a national database that linked average life expectancy by county to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveys on sleep habits.
The results showed that, year after year and in almost all states, sleeping less than seven hours is associated with a significant reduction in longevity.
When comparing sleep with other behavioral factors, the study found that lack of sleep ranked as the second strongest predictor of lower life expectancy after smoking when examining county-level data from 2019 to 2025, ahead of physical inactivity and diabetes.
The researchers highlighted that the relationship was maintained even when statistically controlling for these other factors, which reinforces the relevance of sleep as a fundamental pillar of public health. The research was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the US National Institutes of Health.
The definition of sufficient sleep used in the study is based on recommendations from the CDC, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and the Sleep Research Society: at least 7 hours per night.
McHill emphasized the importance of meeting this threshold: “People should really strive to get between seven and nine hours of sleep if possible,” he said in a statement from the University of Oregon. This recommendation is especially relevant given the prevalence of insufficient sleep in the American population, a problem that, according to the authors, requires priority attention.
The implications for public health are clear. McHill and his team urge you to consider sleep as seriously as diet or exercise.
The study suggests that treating sleep as a luxury or something dispensable can have direct consequences on longevity and quality of life, which is why they recommend policies and campaigns that promote healthy sleep habits in the population.
Why does lack of sleep affect life expectancy?
Regarding the biological mechanisms, although the statistical analysis did not delve into the causes, the authors point out that sleep influences cardiovascular health, the immune system, metabolism and brain function, all factors that affect the risk of long-term diseases.
The study acknowledges that while previous research has linked lack of sleep to increased mortality, this is the first time an annual, county-level correlation has been documented across the United States, reinforcing the robustness of the findings.
Dedicating enough time to a night’s rest not only improves daily well-being, but can also make a difference in how long you live.
“Sleep is not a luxury, but an essential biological need for physical, psychological and emotional well-being,” cardiologist Daniel López Rosetti said in Infobae.
The specialist in stress medicine highlighted that good rest directly impacts memory, mood and the immune system, in addition to reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The quality of your night’s rest not only determines immediate physical and psychological well-being, but also represents an investment for the next day, providing greater energy and promoting concentration.
Dr. Daniel Pérez Chada, president of the Argentine Sleep Foundation, explained to Infobae that “sleep has an essential biological function,” since its alteration not only causes drowsiness, fatigue or concentration difficulties, but can also cause or aggravate pre-existing diseases.
In Argentina, sleeping problems have increased in recent years. A study by the Social Psychology Observatory of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) indicated that 60% of the population has sleeping difficulties, a figure that has increased since the pandemic.
Sleep quality is a determining factor in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) published in April in the journal Circulation.
Infobae detailed the statements of the leading entity in cardiovascular health: not only the number of hours slept, but also the continuity, regularity and satisfaction with rest, are essential to protect cardiometabolic health and reduce risks such as obesity, hypertension and high levels of cholesterol and glucose.
In the latest report, the AHA warns that differences in sleep quality can increase risk factors, especially in communities with limited resources or exposed to adverse social conditions, such as low socioeconomic status, housing instability or discrimination.
Although certain changes in sleep may be natural over the years, lack of rest or its deterioration should not be accepted as an inevitable consequence of aging. Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, chair of the AHA scientific statement writing team and director of the Center for Sleep Research at Columbia University in New York, recommended: “If you notice new difficulties falling or staying asleep, or excessive daytime sleepiness, you should consult your doctor for further evaluation and possible treatment.”
Scientific evidence on the importance of sleep in overall health has increased in recent years. A study carried out by Saint Joseph’s University in the United States revealed that sleep deprivation affects neuronal metabolism in a similar way to what occurs in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
During episodes of insomnia, neurons enter a catabolic state, breaking down nutrients for energy, which interferes with their physiological functioning. This process directly impacts long-term memory and synapse formation, which could increase the risk of cognitive decline.
In 2022, the American Heart Association (AHA) included the quality and duration of sleep as an essential pillar within its recommendations known as Life’s Essential 8 for cardiovascular health, equating it to other factors such as a balanced diet, regular physical activity, avoiding exposure to nicotine, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling cholesterol and glucose levels, and monitoring blood pressure.
The AHA identified seven key components that define sleep quality: continuity, regularity of schedules, subjective satisfaction, ability to maintain alertness during the day, and sleep architecture, among others. Each of these elements affects cardiovascular and metabolic health, which is why experts insist that the impact of sleep must be evaluated comprehensively, beyond the simple duration of rest.
Despite abundant evidence on the effects of sleep on cardiometabolic health, the AHA notes that more research is still required to refine interventions that improve sleep quality.
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