The dangerous but ignored factor in life expectancy reduction has been revealed

Sleep deprivation can shorten life on par with major risk factors — discovered American scientists who analyzed CDC data and life expectancy indicators for the period from 2019 to 2025.

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to the scientific journal SLEEP Advances, researchers studied information about tens of thousands of people to identify the relationship between sleep deprivation (less than seven hours per day) and life expectancy. The results were striking — regions with a higher percentage of poorly sleeping residents consistently showed lower levels of longevity throughout the entire observation period.

Scientists found that even when accounting for key risk factors such as smoking, poor diet, and lack of physical activity, the connection between sleep deprivation and shortened lifespan remained evident. In terms of negative impact, lack of sleep was comparable only to smoking. Particularly alarming is that this pattern was observed across all types of regions, regardless of income levels, access to medical care, or degree of urbanization, confirming the universal importance of sleep for health.

Specialists emphasize that quality night rest is crucial for the normal functioning of cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems. Chronic sleep deprivation disrupts blood pressure regulation, metabolic processes, and cognitive functions, which increases the likelihood of developing diseases and accidents that can lead to premature death.