Extended Sleep Linked to Increased Mortality Risk, Study Finds
Sleeping more than nine hours per night is associated with a higher risk of death from any cause, according to new research.
Sleeping for nine hours or more each night may be associated with an increased risk of early death, a study has found. Researchers observed that individuals who slept longer than nine hours had a 17 percent higher chance of dying from any cause compared to those who slept seven to eight hours per night.
The study, which tracked the sleep habits of over 3,000 people for 30 years, indicated that the lowest mortality rate was among those sleeping seven to eight hours nightly. The mortality rate for individuals sleeping fewer than six hours was slightly higher than those sleeping the optimal amount, but the rate was highest for those sleeping more than nine hours.
While the exact reasons for this association are not fully understood, researchers suggest that longer sleep duration may be linked to underlying health issues such as high blood pressure, which can contribute to heart disease and strokes. Increased inflammation and interference with the body's internal clock, hormonal regulation, and immune system are also potential factors.
The findings, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, suggest that sleep duration assessment could be incorporated into routine health check-ups to help identify individuals at increased health risk. Experts generally advise adults to aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night for overall well-being. Excessive sleep has previously been linked to issues including heart problems, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and poorer cognitive function.