Healthy sleep habits can add up to 4 years to your life

Sleeping seven hours a night can significantly extend your lifespan. According to a recent study, people who maintain a proper and healthy sleep routine have a 24% lower risk of dying prematurely.

An analysis conducted by a UK health insurance company in collaboration with the London School of Economics found that adopting healthy sleep habits could increase life expectancy by up to four years.

The study also revealed that 90% of people in the UK have poor sleep habits including not getting enough sleep, going to bed at inconsistent times or having reduced sleep quality due to stress.

Dr. Katie Tyrain, head of the insurance company involved in the study said that for most people, the problem is not a medical condition but daily routines. She suggested that trying to go to bed just 15 minutes earlier or reading a book instead of watching another episode can make a noticeable difference over time.

The report tracked around 47 million nights of sleep worldwide. It found that in the UK, 41% of people sleep less than seven hours per night while 42% meet the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep according to the National Health Service guidelines.

People who do not get adequate sleep are at higher risk of mental health issues and physical conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. According to the report, individuals with ideal sleep habits, sleeping seven hours at a fixed time every night can live two to four years longer.

For comparison, the life expectancy increase is six years for those who exercise regularly and five years for those who maintain a healthy weight.