![\"Couple](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2253002949.jpg\")
\n\t\tThis study highlights the devastating long-term impact of poor sleep (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThis study highlights the devastating long-term impact of poor sleep (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Waking up groggy is an immediate downside<\/a> of being late to bed and early to rise<\/a>, but new research has confirmed that the consequences go far beyond the next day.<\/p>\n According to a study by Oregon Health<\/a> & Science University (OSHU), insufficient sleep<\/a> could actually \u2018cut years off your life\u2019 \u2014 adding a dark double meaning to the phrase \u2018you can sleep when you\u2019re dead\u2019.<\/p>\n Using a US-wide health habits survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers compared respondents\u2019 answers against life expectancy in their area.<\/p>\n Aside from smoking, getting less than seven hours of sleep per night<\/strong> was the factor most associated with dying younger<\/a>, affecting longevity<\/a> more than diet, exercise<\/a>, socioeconomic status, or loneliness.<\/p>\n \u2018I didn\u2019t expect it to be so strongly correlated to life expectancy,\u2019 commented senior author and OSHU associate professor Andrew McHill, PhD.<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ve always thought sleep is important, but this research really drives that point home: people really should strive to get seven to nine hours<\/a> of sleep if at all possible.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t McHill called the findings \u2018remarkable\u2019, adding that although he\u2019s a sleep psychologist with a good understanding of the health impact of poor rest<\/a>, \u2018it was still striking to see it materialise so strongly in all of these models.\u2019<\/p>\n The study \u2013 published in the journal\u00a0SLEEP Advances \u2013 is the first to show year-by-year connections between sleep and life expectancy across each US state.<\/p>\n This means outlier regions where results deviated from the norm during certain periods can be targeted for future investigation, potentially helping pin down exactly why the two factors are so closely linked.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tDo you get at least 7 hours of sleep most nights?<\/p>\n Yes, I make sure to get enough sleepCheck<\/p>\n<\/li>\n No, I usually get less than 7 hoursCheck<\/p>\n<\/li>\n It depends on my scheduleCheck<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \t\t\t\t\tSign up to Metro’s The Slice newsletter for your guide to what’s on in London, with trusted reviews, offers and giveaways.<\/p>\n Ahead of opening up further scientific breakthroughs though, McHill says this project highlights the importance of prioritising sleep<\/a> \u2018at least as much as we do to what we eat or how we exercise.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018Sometimes, we think of sleep as something we can set aside and maybe put off until later or on the weekend,\u2019 he concluded. \u2018Getting a good night\u2019s sleep will improve how you feel but also how long you live.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t‘Sleepgasms’ are real \u2014 my climax wakes me up in the mornings\t\t\t<\/p>\n If you need any more convincing to get a good night\u2019s sleep, this ought to do it.<\/p>\n Otherwise known as a nocturnal orgasm, a \u2018sleepgasm\u2019 is an orgasm that happens during your sleep, without any physical stimulation.<\/p>\n \u2018They\u2019re a healthy part of sexual function, often linked to erotic dreams or subconscious arousal,\u2019 \u00a0Dr Hana Patel, UK GP and women\u2019s health expert tells\u00a0Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n But, you need to be in a pretty deep sleep for it to happen, as Dr Hana explains it usually happens during REM sleep.<\/p>\n REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 the more deep your sleep, the more your eyes will move around. Once you\u2019re in REM sleep your eyes move quickly in all directions.<\/p>\n In this deep sleep, your brain becomes much more active. Yes, the more asleep you are, the more alert your brain is. This is where your\u00a0vivid dreams\u00a0<\/a>will happen \u2013 at your deepest phase of sleep.<\/p>\n For more information, check out our full article on everything you need to know about the elusive sleepgasm<\/a>.<\/p>\n How many hours of sleep you need each night<\/p>\n The NHS<\/a> recommends adult sleep for 7-9 hours\u2019 sleep a night, but the exact ideal amount can differ depending on a number of things, including a person\u2019s age<\/a>. <\/p>\n For example, guidelines suggest babies under 12 months get around 12-16 hours, school-age children get 9-12 hours, and over-65s get 7-8 hours.<\/p>\n \u2018Individual sleep need is like height \u2013 we are all different and it is to a large degree genetically determined,\u2019 sleep researcher Dr Neil Stanley\u00a0previously told<\/a> Metro<\/strong>. \u2018Anywhere between about four and eleven hours can be considered normal but getting just one hour less sleep a night than you require can have measurable effects on your physical and mental health<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n Given the potential health implications, it\u2019s a good idea to at least try to stick to that magic seven-hour minimum.<\/p>\n However, if that\u2019s not an option, Dr Stanley advises keeping an eye on what works best for you; if you feel tired every day, it\u2019s a definitive sign you aren\u2019t getting enough shut-eye.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWhat happens if you get less than 6 hours sleep a night?\t\t\t<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2247677257.jpg\")
\n\t\tPut that phone down and get some shut-eye (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n
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