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Not Sleeping Enough Can Kill You

Those who get less than 6 hours a night die earlier, says study

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 8, 2010 9:34 AM CDT

(Newser) – If you consistently get less than six hours of sleep, you'd better have your affairs in order. A group of researchers in the UK and Italy say that, by examining 16 separate studies, they've proven that not sleeping enough can lead to an early demise, the Guardian reports. The studies spanned 25 years, 1.3 million people, and 100,000 deaths. Those who didn't get enough sleep were 12% more likely to die prematurely.

“Modern society has seen a gradual reduction in the average amount of sleep people take,” lamented one researcher. “It may be due to societal pressures for longer working hours.” But don't throw away your alarm clock just yet; those who sleep more than nine hours a night are also more likely to die early. The researchers don't think oversleeping itself puts you at risk, but they think it may be indicative of an underlying problem.

Just roll over and forget about it, man! Your very life is at stake!
Just roll over and forget about it, man! Your very life is at stake!   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 24 comments
RufusT.Firefly
May 8, 2010 10:37 PM CDT
What is not being addressed is: do people who oversleep (or undersleep) have other unrelated personality traits that may lead to an early demise? In other words, although the sleeping pattern as well as other behavior aren't linked as cause/effect, they may both be different symptoms of the same thing.
Mr.C
May 8, 2010 8:53 PM CDT
I DIDN'T MISS IT, I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO READ IT THE FIRST TIME.

IF I DID READ IT, IT CAUSES ME TO STOP SCANNING THROUGH THE NEWS BECAUSE THE FIRST GRAYED OUT BOX I SEE TRIGGERS ME TO THINK THAT I'VE ALREADY SEEN WHAT IS BELOW.


newser editor edit
WikkidLilGrrrl
May 7, 2010 10:10 AM CDT
that blows considering its 4:08 am here and im stil up :( this is most nights for me btw....guess i better start brain storming epitaphs

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