Sleeping less than seven hours may cut life length

Study Finds -  Americans who regularly sleep fewer than seven hours a night may be cutting their lives short, according to extensive research that examined sleep patterns and life expectancy across every county in the United States. The relationship holds true whether someone lives in a wealthy suburb or a rural town, has access to top-tier healthcare or none at all.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 3,000 counties between 2019 and 2025, comparing reported sleep duration with life expectancy in each area. Counties where more residents slept fewer than seven hours nightly consistently showed lower life expectancies. The pattern appeared in nearly every state, year after year, even when researchers accounted for other major health risks like smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.