Benefits of a Refreshing, Good Night's Sleep

"I think these findings emphasize that just getting enough hours of sleep isn't sufficient; you really have to have restful sleep and not have much trouble falling and staying asleep."

"It's never too late o exercise or [to] stop smoking, it's also never too early.:"

"And we should be talking about and assessing sleep more often."

"If people have all these ideal sleep behaviours, they are more likely to live longer."

.

"So, if we can improve sleep overall -- and identifying sleep disorders is especially important -- we may be able to prevent some of this premature mortality." 

Frank Qian, clinical fellow in medicine, Harvard Medical School

Many experts suggest that quality sleep is as important to your health and well-being as good nutrition and exercise.

 

Researchers at Harvard University have concluded from a survey of data from over 170,000 people that those who enjoyed good-quality sleep lived the longest lives. Simply put, a good night's sleep has the potential to add years to a person's longevity. Sufficient sleep may extend a life by close to five years for males and over two years for females.

As well, eight percent of deaths from any cause may be linked to poor sleep quality, according to the study. Those who realized the largest benefit slept for between seven and eight hours nightly, had no difficulty falling asleep, nor trouble remaining asleep. Nor did they use any sleep medications. These are people who reported feeling well-rested on waking, at least five days of the week.

 

Insufficient sleep may increase your risk of developing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease 2008 JupiterImages Corporation

There are other deleterious effects of insufficient sleep, such as the recognition that just one night of poor sleep is capable of triggering a spike in a brain chemical linked to Alzheimer’s disease. People with sleep apnea, a condition which leads people to repeatedly stop breathing at night, are at risk for developing mild cognitive impairment on average ten years earlier than people without the sleep disorder.

Life expectancy came to 4.7 years' extension for men and 2.4 years for women, in those study subjects who reported enjoying quality sleep patterns. It has been known to medical science for years that having insufficient sleep increases risk of health complications such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. This, however, represents the first research that quantifies the benefit of good sleep to life expectancy.

 

The Harvard research team studied data from 172,321 subjects who participated in the National Health Interview survey which took place between 2013 and 2018. The Harvard study group presented their findings at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session.

 

"Even from a young age, if people can develop these good sleep habits of getting enough sleep, making sure they are sleeping without too many distractions and have good sleep hygiene overall, it can greatly benefit their overall long-term health."

"It’s important for younger people to understand that a lot of health behaviours are cumulative over time."

"Just like we like to say, it’s never too late to exercise or stop smoking, it’s also never too early. And we should be talking about and assessing sleep more often."

Dr. Frank Qian