Sleep duration linked to increased premature death risk

A study published in the Journal of Sleep Research suggests that sleeping more than nine hours per night may be linked to an increased risk of premature death. Researchers tracked the sleep habits of over 3,000 individuals over a 30-year period.

The findings indicate that while 7 to 8 hours of sleep is optimal for general health, those sleeping more than nine hours experienced a 17 percent increase in mortality risk. In comparison, the mortality rate for those sleeping 7 to 8 hours was 10.57 per thousand, while those sleeping more than nine hours saw a rate of 11.27 per thousand.

While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, researchers noted that excessive sleep may be associated with higher blood pressure, increased inflammation, and disruptions to the body's internal clock, hormone regulation, and immune system function.