Early to bed, longer to live

Woman sleeping peacefully on her stomach in bed in the morning hours

Get to bed a little earlier and you could extend your life. That's what a study suggests.

In the meta-analysis, where researchers pooled together the results of a body of research, it appeared that getting at least 6 hours of shut-eye each night was the ticket to live longer. Any less than that was associated with a 12% increase in mortality risk. So, early to bed means a long, healthy life.

The ZZZs You Need

Ahhh, to sleep. Perchance to live longer. Scientists aren't exactly sure why spending at least 6 hours sleeping each night is so essential. It may be that short sleep triggers chronic health problems by stimulating people's appetites -- and thus setting the stage for unhealthful overeating and weight gain. Or a lack of sleep may increase levels of inflammation and stress hormones in the body. Whatever the reason, make ‘early to bed’ a priority every night in order to get enough sleep and feel refreshed and revived each morning. (Fix your sleep right now with this bedtime checklist of do's and don'ts.)

The Sweet Sleep Spot

Good sleep improves your mood, your immune system, and even your metabolism. But don't overdo a good thing. In the study, sleeping too much appeared to be even worse for longevity than sleeping too little. Getting more than 8 hours of sleep per night was associated with a 30% increase in mortality risk in the study participants. It's not clear why, but researchers suspect that underlying health problems may cause people to sleep extra long. Treating those underlying, energy-depriving health problems could be another key to living a longer life.

More On

How to handle sleepwalking for a better night's sleep

video

How to handle sleepwalking for a better night's sleep
Almost 30% of people sleepwalk at some point. Kevin Soden, MD, explains how sleepwalking is tied to sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and stress, an...
5 healthy ways to spring forward for daylight saving time

article

5 healthy ways to spring forward for daylight saving time
Steer clear of time change downsides and wake up feeling great.
6 creepy ways your bedroom can make you sick

slideshow

6 creepy ways your bedroom can make you sick
Dust mites and lingering viruses are just two health hazards. Use these tips to make a clean sweep.
Who is most likely to benefit from using a sleep wearable?

video

Who is most likely to benefit from using a sleep wearable?
Everyone can benefit from using a sleep wearable or tracker, since it creates awareness and provides more information about your sleep. Sleep expert M...
What happens to memory during sleep?

video

What happens to memory during sleep?
Michael Timothy Smith, MA, PhD, director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at Johns Hopkins University, explains that while you sleep, your bra...