Sleep: Too Much or Too Little Could Take Years Off Your Life
It’s becoming common knowledge that getting less than six hours of sleep a night can lead to severe health problems. A new study published in the scientific journal, Sleep, presents even more alarming news. According to an exhaustive study including more than 1.3 million participants followed up for more than 25 years, Sleep found that there is a significant danger in getting too little or too much sleep. The journal’s conclusion states: “Both short and long duration of sleep are significant predictors of death in prospective population studies.”
The study shows that 12% of people who regularly get less than six hours of sleep per night die before the age of 65. Sleep deprivation has been linked to severe health conditions such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. Professor Francesco Cappuccio, leader of the study and head of the Sleep, Health and Society program at University of Warich put the reports in context by saying, “Modern society has seen a gradual reduction in the average amount of sleep people take, and this pattern is more common amongst full-time workers, suggesting that it may be due to societal pressures for longer working hours and more shift-work.”
The study also found there are some heavy consequences for those of us who sleep nine hours or more a night. According to the study, people who average nine hours or more of sleep per night are 30% more likely to die prematurely than those who average between six and eight hours of shut-eye. If there are many health problems associated with sleep deprivation, then why are people who get too much sleep at risk as well? The study postulates that those who oversleep are more likely to have a serious mental health issue like depression or a physical condition that keeps them bed-ridden. Capuccio believes that, “Whilst short sleep may represent a cause of ill health, long sleep is believed to represent more an indicator of ill health.”
How many hours of sleep do you get every night? Are you regularly -making it past the six-hour mark? It could mean a world of difference. If you’re getting way too much sleep due to a health problem, be sure you’re getting proper medical attention. For the most part, you should be getting six to eight hours of sleep because, according to Prof. Francesco Cappuccio, “Consistently sleeping six to eight hours per night may be optimal for health.”
