New research published in Sleep Advances found that sleep is the strongest predictor of life expectancy, even surpassing diet, physical activity, and social isolation. An analysis of nationwide health data collected between 2019 and 2025 by state health departments through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System found that people who received the recommended seven-plus hours of sleep a night were more likely to outlive those who consistently got less than seven hours. The study revealed that nearly 37% of American adults don’t get the recommended seven-plus hours of sleep a night.
Sleep medicine physicians explain that sufficient sleep impacts multiple aspects of health, including cardiovascular health, immune function, weight management, and mood. According to Beth Malow, MD, chief of the Division of Sleep Disorders at Vanderbilt Health, “Getting sufficient sleep is related to so many aspects of health” and “translates into the importance of sleep on our lifespan.” Andrew W. McHill, PhD, study co-author and director of the Sleep, Chronobiology, and Health Laboratory at Oregon Health & Science University, noted that shorter sleep is usually linked to making worse behavioral choices that increase the likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Several common sleep barriers prevent people from getting adequate rest. Evening phone use, particularly doomscrolling, suppresses melatonin production through blue light exposure and can leave people too stimulated to sleep. Caffeine consumed even in the afternoon can disrupt sleep, with a half-life of five to six hours; experts recommend stopping caffeine intake at least five hours before bedtime. Alcohol may initially feel drowsy but delays REM sleep and causes more disrupted sleep overall. Limited daytime exercise, overscheduled lifestyles, inconsistent sleep schedules with weekend sleep-ins, and viewing sleep as non-essential also contribute to insufficient rest.
Healthcare professionals recommend consulting a doctor if sleep difficulties involve waking early, waking throughout the night, or difficulty falling asleep, as these may indicate conditions like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome requiring medical intervention.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://us.headtopics.com/news/this-daily-habit-could-be-slowly-shortening-your-life-78298141